The road to recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is rarely smooth and can be full of detours and obstacles; even everyday events can pose a challenge. Current or former drug users searching for a life insurance policy may have a difficult task ahead of them. Life insurance companies use several factors such as prior medical history, current health and lifestyle choices to determine whether an applicant is eligible for coverage and rate insurance costs. While it is not impossible to secure life insurance, recovering addicts may have limited options and pay much higher premiums. Bankrate has put together this guide that may help people in recovery discover their life insurance options.

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Can you qualify for life insurance if you’ve used drugs?

Yes. While qualifying for life insurance is typically more difficult if you are recovering from addiction, not all life insurance companies or policy types are the same. Each life insurance provider may have different conditions and sobriety timeframes, so shopping for coverage with several companies can help you find coverage. Insurance companies that accept policyholders with a drug or alcohol abuse background typically require two to three years of sobriety without a relapse.

There are two main types of life insurance: term life and permanent life.

Term life insurance

Term life insurance policies are usually the less expensive option since the policy contract is for a predetermined amount of time instead of the policyholder’s whole life. Typical policies are for between 10 to 30 years. These policies may work well for people looking to provide financial support to their beneficiary during specific time frames, such as the length of a mortgage payment.

Permanent life insurance

Permanent life insurance policies stay in effect for a policyholder’s whole life, as long as premiums are paid, and are generally more expensive than term life since the death benefit is more likely to be paid. It also has a cash value component that the policyholder could use as a loan or savings account once it accrues enough. Usually, permanent life policies are purchased to pay for funeral-related expenses, take care of any outstanding debt and provide financial support for the beneficiary.

What is the best type of life insurance for drug users?

A medical questionnaire and exam are standard with both types of life insurance, which can be an issue for people with pre-existing conditions, poor health or trouble with addiction. In this situation, many people benefit from insurance policies that don’t require physical exams and have limited medical questions. These policies are usually more expensive and have lower policy limits, but can be a good option for policyholders that wouldn’t qualify for coverage otherwise. Listed below are some of the best options for life insurance.

Burial insurance

Burial insurance is a type of permanent life insurance policy with lower death benefit limits and is intended only to cover funeral expenses. It typically has a low premium and the average benefit selection is between $5,000 and $25,000.

Group life insurance

Group life insurance can be offered by employers and tends to be incredibly cheap — sometimes only a few dollars a month. It is considered a term life policy since the coverage is usually only available during your employment with the company. Depending on the plan your employer selected, you may have much higher coverage limits. Medical questionnaires or exams are generally only required for the highest selections, which can be $200,000 or above.

Guaranteed life insurance

Guaranteed life is permanent life insurance that most people qualify for, but also has one of the most expensive premiums. The death benefit is usually $25,000 or less. Since forgoing a medical exam poses a higher risk to insurers, there is usually a two-year waiting period before the full face value of the policy would become available to beneficiaries.

Pre-need insurance

Pre-need insurance is a permanent type of policy where the life insurance company and funeral home work in tandem, or you could purchase the insurance directly from the funeral home. This option comes with the benefit of you selecting your funeral arrangements ahead of time and allows the funeral home to be paid directly upon your death.

Common life insurance underwriting questions

Typically, insurance companies that accept policyholders with a background of drug or alcohol abuse require a minimum of two to three years of sobriety without a relapse. There is an increased mortality risk associated with former addicts and to account for this, you may be placed in a high-risk group with more expensive premiums.

It can be tempting to withhold information to get a more affordable policy, but don’t. Underwriters will look into your medical records, public records and even social media accounts. If you are applying for life insurance that requires a medical exam, a blood sample is often required. Being dishonest about addiction problems can cause your application to be denied and stop the policy from being issued. Here are some common questions you can expect when you apply for a life insurance policy:

  • How long have you been sober?
  • How long did you do drugs?
  • What drugs were you addicted to?
  • How did you administer them?
  • Are you currently using drugs now?
  • Have you ever relapsed? How many times? For how long?
  • Have you sought treatment? Do you attend a support group?
  • Are you employed? For how long?
  • Has your addiction impacted your driving record?
  • Do you have support from family or friends?
  • Do you have any disabilities as a result of your addiction?

How insurers assess drug use

If you use drugs, your life insurance provider will typically view you as a greater risk to insure. For insurers, the issue is primarily associated health concerns with drug use. For example, smoking tobacco lowers life expectancy at least 10 years, according to the CDC. And alcohol use is associated with major diseases like liver cirrhosis and cardiovascular disease, along with a greater risk of fatal car accidents.

Because of the risks associated with the practice, it’s understandable that life insurance companies would want to know about an applicant’s drug use.

If you’ve previously been to rehab or are still getting clean, you may have to wait to apply for a life insurance policy until that part of your life is far enough in the past that you will qualify for coverage. Every insurance provider has different standards, but addicts who are currently still using are unlikely to qualify for most policies.

Prescription medications

Certain prescription medications won’t affect your life insurance application one way or another, but there are others that insurers view as an increased risk. In particular, insurers may look for:

  • Addiction treatment drugs: Drugs used for the treatment of opioid addiction, such as suboxone, may raise a red flag on your life insurance application and increase your premium.
  • Painkillers and muscle relaxers: These prescriptions are typically temporary, so you might want to wait until you’re off them to apply. Given the risk of addiction and fatality when combined with alcohol, disclosing the regular use of these prescriptions may result in a higher premium but it is best practice to be honest with your application.
  • Prescription marijuana: If it’s prescribed, you will likely need to explain the underlying issues that resulted in your prescription use of the drug. Depending on the state you live in and the provider’s specific policies, this may have either a positive or negative effect on rates.

Other prescriptions, such as mental health medications, diabetes medications and HIV medications, can also raise your premium because the underlying conditions associated with these medications can lead to an early death. When in doubt, be transparent with the provider on your application and speak with an agent to learn what impact your prescriptions may have on rates or eligibility.

Marijuana

If you only smoke recreationally a few times a year, you may still qualify the lowest rates from some marijuana-friendly life insurance providers. In some cases, you may be classified based on your frequency of use, so if it’s occasional, you can still get good rates. On the other hand, if you’re a daily marijuana smoker, you may be classified as a tobacco smoker, which will typically result in higher premiums.

Illicit drugs

Drugs like heroin and cocaine are illegal for many reasons, not the least of which is due to the increased health and safety risks associated with abuse of narcotics. Even decades after treatment, previous heroin users have a shortened life expectancy, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you spent time in a rehab facility dealing with your addiction, you’ll need to disclose your past drug use, which may result in higher premiums. However, some insurers may still cover you if you’ve been clean for several years.

Alcohol

Life insurance companies will inquire about how frequently you drink, if you have ever needed treatment for alcohol abuse and if you have ever received a DUI/DWI. Alcohol abuse can cause severe physical and mental complications such as depression, high blood pressure, liver and pancreas damage and lower your immune system. Alcoholism also tends to lead people toward drug abuse, another risk factor life insurance companies consider.

Tobacco

Smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco and cigars all negatively impact your health and can shorten life expectancy by 10 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it only takes five cigarettes a day to cause cardiovascular disease. Increased chances of a heart attack, stroke, and cancer of the lungs, throat, and mouth are other factors that cause high life insurance premiums for tobacco users. Insurance companies consider someone a non-smoker after 12 months of being tobacco free, but they may still pay more than someone who has never been a smoker.

What to do if you are denied life insurance because of drug use

If you are currently using drugs, you will likely need to get clean and stay free of drugs for a few years or more before any insurer will cover you. But if you are coping with your addiction and have been clean for years, keep in mind that every insurer weighs your information a little differently when assessing your risk. One insurer might require you to be drug-free for five years, while others could say two years.

Even if you didn’t get denied, it is wise to compare quotes from a few other life insurance providers to keep your insurance costs low since every insurance company will provide a different premium. It may be difficult to determine which company will have the most favorable rates for your situation until you compare.

Frequently asked questions

    • The best life insurance company for you will depend on a number of factors, including your coverage needs and your customized premium amount, as well as whether or not eligibility will be a factor. To find the best provider for you, it can be helpful to calculate your life insurance needs, then choose a handful of providers able to provide the type of coverage you want. Or, you can start with researching insurers that will be more lenient towards your individual health conditions, including past addiction.
    • Yes, in most cases. If you pass away within the policy’s contestability period and you were not honest about your drug use, your beneficiaries may not receive the full face value of your policy. If you pass away outside of the contestability period, regardless of intentional or accidental overdose, your beneficiaries would receive the death benefit. Typically, life insurance companies will pay your beneficiaries if you die from any accident, including an accidental drug overdose. If it’s proved that your drug overdose was intentional and it falls within the policy’s contesability period, the suicide would not be covered. Speak with an agent when shopping for providers to learn how each handles these types of situations.