Life Insurance (UK) - History of alcoholism
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Life Insurance (UK) - History of alcoholism
I’m filling in life insurance forms, and they include questions asking if I’ve ever been advised to cut down on drinking, referred to a counsellor, etc. As I saw my GP just over a year ago about my drinking and was referred to a counsellor, I would have to answer “yes”.
As I gave up 11 months ago, have great blood test results and even a nice and healthy recent liver fibroscan report, I’ll visit my GP and ask what they would say if approached by any insurance company,
A quick google shows there are insurance companies who will even consider insuring people who’ve damaged their health through drinking, so I’m sure I’ll get insurance. Furthermore, I’m “only” after £100K coverage just to pay the remaining mortgage in case I shuffle off this mortal coil within the next ten years. Premiums would not be prohibitively expensive.
Obviously, honesty is the only policy in such cases, but has anyone else (ex-drinkers) had issues with life insurance?
As I gave up 11 months ago, have great blood test results and even a nice and healthy recent liver fibroscan report, I’ll visit my GP and ask what they would say if approached by any insurance company,
A quick google shows there are insurance companies who will even consider insuring people who’ve damaged their health through drinking, so I’m sure I’ll get insurance. Furthermore, I’m “only” after £100K coverage just to pay the remaining mortgage in case I shuffle off this mortal coil within the next ten years. Premiums would not be prohibitively expensive.
Obviously, honesty is the only policy in such cases, but has anyone else (ex-drinkers) had issues with life insurance?
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Originally Posted by Hodd 
I’m filling in life insurance forms, and they include questions asking if I’ve ever been advised to cut down on drinking, referred to a counsellor, etc. As I saw my GP just over a year ago about my drinking and was referred to a counsellor, I would have to answer “yes”.
As I gave up 11 months ago, have great blood test results and even a nice and healthy recent liver fibroscan report, I’ll visit my GP and ask what they would say if approached by any insurance company,
A quick google shows there are insurance companies who will even consider insuring people who’ve damaged their health through drinking, so I’m sure I’ll get insurance. Furthermore, I’m “only” after £100K coverage just to pay the remaining mortgage in case I shuffle off this mortal coil within the next ten years. Premiums would not be prohibitively expensive.
Obviously, honesty is the only policy in such cases, but has anyone else (ex-drinkers) had issues with life insurance?
As I gave up 11 months ago, have great blood test results and even a nice and healthy recent liver fibroscan report, I’ll visit my GP and ask what they would say if approached by any insurance company,
A quick google shows there are insurance companies who will even consider insuring people who’ve damaged their health through drinking, so I’m sure I’ll get insurance. Furthermore, I’m “only” after £100K coverage just to pay the remaining mortgage in case I shuffle off this mortal coil within the next ten years. Premiums would not be prohibitively expensive.
Obviously, honesty is the only policy in such cases, but has anyone else (ex-drinkers) had issues with life insurance?
What is important is that you are totally honest, because an insurance company will investigate your claim before paying out! If they can prove you weren't honest, they can invalidate your claim. So my suggestion would just be to answer 'yes' to the questions you have cited.
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Thanks 👍 I’ll answer yes, but I’ll also be proactive. My GP doesn’t know I’ve quit drinking, and the fibroscan I had done was done privately overseas. If I make my GP aware of my improvements, I’m hopefully more likely to get the all clear.
By the way, I’m not sorry at all that I went to my GP. It pretty much changed my life and I really believe I’ll be around twenty or thirty years more as a result of quitting booze along with associated lifestyle changes.
I don’t want anyone to read and hold off seeing a GP just in case of a remote chance it will affect some future insurance. Health is way more important.
By the way, I’m not sorry at all that I went to my GP. It pretty much changed my life and I really believe I’ll be around twenty or thirty years more as a result of quitting booze along with associated lifestyle changes.
I don’t want anyone to read and hold off seeing a GP just in case of a remote chance it will affect some future insurance. Health is way more important.
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Most people in the UK who’ve been to a GP with alcoholism aren’t insured for driving as your driving licence is invalid for 6 or 12 months depending on the severity of your alcoholism. You’re supposed to inform the Dvla.
it always amuses me to see people with a few months sober spout on about rigorous honesty and then drive home
it always amuses me to see people with a few months sober spout on about rigorous honesty and then drive home
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https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drug-or-...tness-to-drive
Interesting. I wasn’t aware of any of that. I wonder how that’s enforced. As I say, I went to the GP as I was on 40 units a week which equates to half a bottle of wine a day. No mention of DVLA. It’s so hard to define alcoholism.
Whilst I never drank drive, I’m sure with half a bottle of wine eight or nine hours before, I had a amount of alcohol in my system when I drove the next morning.
I still say people must go to their GP if they’re worried about drinking. Any insurances issues can be sorted. A failing liver can’t be.
Interesting. I wasn’t aware of any of that. I wonder how that’s enforced. As I say, I went to the GP as I was on 40 units a week which equates to half a bottle of wine a day. No mention of DVLA. It’s so hard to define alcoholism.
Whilst I never drank drive, I’m sure with half a bottle of wine eight or nine hours before, I had a amount of alcohol in my system when I drove the next morning.
I still say people must go to their GP if they’re worried about drinking. Any insurances issues can be sorted. A failing liver can’t be.
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Hodd, I think it says something on the DVLA website itself
https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/di...alth-condition
Though as you are now sober and have a clean bill of health I am not sure if it is relevant
https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/di...alth-condition
Though as you are now sober and have a clean bill of health I am not sure if it is relevant
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If you get some resistance, maybe they can write a clause in the policy that you are open to random drug and alcohol screening to prove you are sober. Just a thought.
Years ago a lawyer told me if was indeed c lean and was accused of being "high" immediately demand to take a drug test. I've always remembered that.
Years ago a lawyer told me if was indeed c lean and was accused of being "high" immediately demand to take a drug test. I've always remembered that.
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We just did insurance a year ago. We're Canada, so some similarities. For us there were so many questions and tests. Be honest, they can and will investigate further, depends on their underwriting team. This will possibly differ, after a year smoke free I can ask for a rate review.
One of my insurance policies already classes me as a non smoker and I received about $14 a month reduction. I think the next reduction is three and then 7. I was classed as a non drinker and as it had been a year sober at that point, I was over their threshold for further questions.
I had abnormal cell growth in my 20s, that did not preclude me as it had been so long. 10 years ago I was denied because of it.
So, it depends on underwriting and it could be, you pay a higher premium for a short while. then ask for a review.
We had blood and urine done by their nurse in our home, blood pressure, more questions, we had to sign a release for our doctor. You can't hide anything. Let them work with you. Insurance is business, you have money, they have a product.
One of my insurance policies already classes me as a non smoker and I received about $14 a month reduction. I think the next reduction is three and then 7. I was classed as a non drinker and as it had been a year sober at that point, I was over their threshold for further questions.
I had abnormal cell growth in my 20s, that did not preclude me as it had been so long. 10 years ago I was denied because of it.
So, it depends on underwriting and it could be, you pay a higher premium for a short while. then ask for a review.
We had blood and urine done by their nurse in our home, blood pressure, more questions, we had to sign a release for our doctor. You can't hide anything. Let them work with you. Insurance is business, you have money, they have a product.
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I’ll go back to my GP to update them first. The biggest clue I don’t drink is my fibroscan test results. I did this test privately overseas (cost was the equivalent of £150) out of curiosity, and my liver was healthy and supple (score 7) with no detectable fat.
There is the risk I may relapse I guess. My GP will know that as will the insurance company, but it’s the best I can do.
I’m willing to bet many people drink too much but have never seen their GP about this or told an insurance company. Seems a very bad idea to me.
There is the risk I may relapse I guess. My GP will know that as will the insurance company, but it’s the best I can do.
I’m willing to bet many people drink too much but have never seen their GP about this or told an insurance company. Seems a very bad idea to me.
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What could be the projection here
Originally Posted by FlyAgain
Most people in the UK who’ve been to a GP with alcoholism aren’t insured for driving as your driving licence is invalid for 6 or 12 months depending on the severity of your alcoholism. You’re supposed to inform the Dvla.
it always amuses me to see people with a few months sober spout on about rigorous honesty and then drive home
it always amuses me to see people with a few months sober spout on about rigorous honesty and then drive home
What might be interesting could be to ask yourself why you find your perception of someone else's lack of "rigorous honesty" amusing.
Besides, perhaps "most" people (how did you quantify that amount...) are not even aware of this rule or clause.
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Originally Posted by FlyAgain
Most people in the UK who’ve been to a GP with alcoholism aren’t insured for driving as your driving licence is invalid for 6 or 12 months depending on the severity of your alcoholism. You’re supposed to inform the Dvla.
it always amuses me to see people with a few months sober spout on about rigorous honesty and then drive home
it always amuses me to see people with a few months sober spout on about rigorous honesty and then drive home
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Originally Posted by Callas
Half a bottle of wine per night? No wonder your liver is perfect.
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I’m also a little surprised that firstly I couldn’t find a similar thread and also that more posters aren’t concerned. Anyone with a family or mortgage should have some sort of life insurance, and anyone reading this now has or had problems with alcohol which will very likely affect any insurance.
So are some of us insured and just hoping for the best?
So are some of us insured and just hoping for the best?
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From my understanding, the vast majority of people are under insured. I was shocked to hear about the people who only get a couple months insurance, just to get their sticker/tags. It is also something, a good many people don't understand, more equate it with a scheme or legal racket.
Our personal vehicles and house went up $600 this year, no accidents and our vehicles are less than 3 years old. It takes me 3 months to pay the farm insurance every year. Insurance is expensive. Our life insurance is $3,600 a year, yet we are better off than our friends to the South who have to pay medical and prescription/dental/eye on top of those insane numbers.
Adequate insurance is a luxury, so many are fighting to just make it payday to payday, I imagine insurance is way down the list of priorities, especially when you figure they may not be healthy enough to get it, let alone pay for it.
Our personal vehicles and house went up $600 this year, no accidents and our vehicles are less than 3 years old. It takes me 3 months to pay the farm insurance every year. Insurance is expensive. Our life insurance is $3,600 a year, yet we are better off than our friends to the South who have to pay medical and prescription/dental/eye on top of those insane numbers.
Adequate insurance is a luxury, so many are fighting to just make it payday to payday, I imagine insurance is way down the list of priorities, especially when you figure they may not be healthy enough to get it, let alone pay for it.
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An update on this. I stopped drinking at the end of 2018, but I had discussed my drinking with my GP before that. Last year, I applied for life insurance (to cover outstanding mortgage debt in the event of my death) and realised that obviously if I died from any illness, any insurance company would check my medical records and see my history of drinking. The sensible option was of course to declare my previous drinking.
I had to see my GP to say I’d stopped drinking. I don’t think she believed me despite the fact I’m now very fit and slim compared to the obese drinker I was. Luckily I had private LFT and liver fibroscan results to help prove my case.
Anyway, the insurance company were fine with it, and my premiums are unaffected. Honesty has to be the best policy even if premiums are higher.
So am I cured after 16 months? Not really. I’d still like a drink from time to time. However, I know 100% I’d revert back to my daily bottle of wine within a matter of days. One drink really would be too many. Luckily I accepted that 16 months ago, and I hope anyone reading will do the same.
I had to see my GP to say I’d stopped drinking. I don’t think she believed me despite the fact I’m now very fit and slim compared to the obese drinker I was. Luckily I had private LFT and liver fibroscan results to help prove my case.
Anyway, the insurance company were fine with it, and my premiums are unaffected. Honesty has to be the best policy even if premiums are higher.
So am I cured after 16 months? Not really. I’d still like a drink from time to time. However, I know 100% I’d revert back to my daily bottle of wine within a matter of days. One drink really would be too many. Luckily I accepted that 16 months ago, and I hope anyone reading will do the same.
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