Cigars & Life-Insurance... some real issues

[Zanaspus]

I sold insurance a long time ago in a galaxy far-far away. My first call would be to you state bureau of insurance. THEY are the true arbiters of what qualifies as misrepresentation and the statutes on it. Should you find there is a finite statute on misrepresentation (which is what you did, like it or not. Please don't flame me, it's the truth), then relax. If there is no finite statute on misrepresentation, I would shop for a company who does not consider cigar smoking as smoking in the normal sense.

Again, no disrespect, and I don't mean for this to get hot and heavy, but if you smoke cigars and answer "no" to a smoking question, it's just a legal fact.

[Zanaspus]

Also, if the person who sold it to you says it's ok, then you're golden. The burden would now rest on your agent and his Errors & Omissions insurance.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

Also, if the person who sold it to you says it's ok, then you're golden. The burden would now rest on your agent and his Errors & Omissions insurance.

While I do agree with you in principle, personally, I wouldn't want to base the belief that I would be covered when I shouldn't be all on a "he said / she said" argument. Now, maybe if it was in writing, it might, depending on the wording, be a bit more comforting to me to try and base my policy coverage on a mistake, but, again, maybe not even then. I see no point making my beneficiaries have to potentially get attorneys involved when it could have been easily and cheaply avoided.

[captain53]

Insurance 101 - Find a way not to pay.
Insurance 102 - Look for false information on application
Insurance 103 - Smoking related death check around and see if he used Tobacco and last time I checked Cigars were Tobacco
Masters Degree - See if he was buying cigars, ask neighbors and friends, ask family, and keep checking till you find a way out of paying.
Insurance PHd - Tell the Mrs and Kids too bad!

[MarkinAZ]

Hello Anthony,

I would simply have an open conversation with your broker as mentioned above regarding your tobacco use. Your young and your broker should have a good stable of life insurance carriers to choose from that offer your age group a good premium for a life policy.

If a carrier had any feeling that you use tobacco, a good investigator could ascertain and resolve that issue

In my opinion the simple answer is yes.

I told them 10 years ago that I was a tobacco user..............Cigars it changed my premium but I know that if something happens there is no way out. Full disclosure is the way to go.

I fully agree about talking to the broker and seeing if there are different rates for different usage levels.

The same question about Alcohol was asked of me.......do you use Alcohol I said yes.

Hell they even asked about drug use.........I simply asked for clarification..........as in I have tried Marijuana in the past (way past) but don't and won't use it going forward so that was a no.

[Blueface]

Have not read the other responses as pressed to leave.
However, did want to address your question.
I happen to be a manager for a fraud investigation operation for an insurance company.
As such, I am very familiar with the claims side.

Here is a word of caution for you, "void ab initio".
Many, if not all policies, contain language relative to misrepresentations in an application for insurance.
If the misrepresentations are deemed to be "material" to accepting the risk or rating the risk, most states will generally uphold that void ab initio, in essence rescinding the policy from its inception.

So, you never want to lie in an application for insurance, particularly if you have a blog that provides evidence to the contrary to what you have stated.
I can tell you that I smoked a bunch of cigars at a herf in Chicago, then was tested immediately thereafter for a life policy and I had as minimal findings as my wife who doesn't smoke cigars at all. I told them I am an occasional cigar smoker, which is what I truly am. On any occasion I can, I do.

How you proceed, let your conscious be your guide.

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

I sold insurance a long time ago in a galaxy far-far away. My first call would be to you state bureau of insurance. THEY are the true arbiters of what qualifies as misrepresentation and the statutes on it. Should you find there is a finite statute on misrepresentation (which is what you did, like it or not. Please don't flame me, it's the truth), then relax. If there is no finite statute on misrepresentation, I would shop for a company who does not consider cigar smoking as smoking in the normal sense.

Again, no disrespect, and I don't mean for this to get hot and heavy, but if you smoke cigars and answer "no" to a smoking question, it's just a legal fact.

None taken. And I know it is lying, although they are really looking to target cig smokers. I was just curious as to how some have handled it. I don't want to get a ridiculous rate because I put down 'yes' because the risk isn't anywhere close to the same between me and a smoker. I have yet to hear of any cigar-only smoker dying of a cigar related illness, although I'm sure there are some...

Thank you kindly for your advice.

[Zanaspus]

If the company says cigar smoking = smoking, find another one. There's a policy for every sensible risk group.