When you apply for life insurance, your health and habits can affect not only your policy rates, but even whether you’ll be approved for a policy. Drug use, both past and present, can also affect your eligibility for life insurance. This is a complicated subject, so just how drug use will impact your policy will depend on many factors.
Possibly. Life insurance companies all approach drug use a little differently. If you occasionally use recreational drugs like marijuana, some companies might still approve your application but charge you a higher premium. Others might deny your coverage entirely.
Even prescription drug use when following a doctor’s instructions might impact your life insurance. For example, if you’re taking opioids as directed, some companies might approve you, while others may consider the opioids to be a health risk factor, and might raise your premiums as a result.
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Your chances of being approved can also depend on your prior drug use. When you first apply for a life insurance policy, you’ll need to answer questions about your health and your past habits, including substance abuse. It’s important to be honest in responding to these questions; if you conceal information and the insurance provider later discovers it, your policy can be cancelled or the company might be able to deny a payout.
Life insurance companies might offer you coverage if you have been sober for a required amount of time, such as two or three years. Again, this will depend on the company, your drug use history, and even the types of drugs that you used. Drug use can have long-term health implications, so companies might deny you coverage even if you’ve been sober for years.
Life insurance often covers accidental drug overdose, but coverage may be excluded in certain situations. If it’s determined that a drug overdose was a suicide attempt, the insurance won’t pay out a benefit.
Additionally, if an overdose occurs during the contestability period, which lasts for two years after your policy begins, the provider might deny the claim. The provider will thoroughly research your background during this time, and if they find information missed during the underwriting process, like a history of drug use, they may deny the claim.
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Past or present drug use complicates life insurance applications. You should be prepared to answer questions about the duration and type of drugs that you used. You will likely be required to complete a physical, which is a standard requirement for life insurance. Part of the physical involves a drug screening, and if you currently have drugs in your system, you may be denied coverage.
If you’re not able to get life insurance because of a history of drug use, consider looking for a policy that doesn’t require a medical history or exam. These policies tend to be more expensive, but they can help you still get coverage so your family is financially protected in case of your death.
You can get free life insurance quotes online to find the best policy for your needs.
Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
