Life Insurance for Marijuana Users (420 Friendly Insurers)

Can someone who smokes marijuana get life insurance? Do life insurance companies test for marijuana? Or, will having a prescription for medical marijuana affect my life insurance premium rates?

If you are a marijuana user applying for life insurance, it is smart to ask similar questions in advance, given the potential impact on underwriting and pricing.

On a positive note, it is often possible to qualify for affordable life insurance coverage as a marijuana user.

The following article, Life Insurance for Marijuana Users (420 Friendly Insurers), provides information related to life insurance for marijuana users, underwriting considerations, sample rates, recommended insurers, and other considerations for high-risk life insurance.

In considering the negative health implications of drug use in general, it is understandable that many insurers approach life insurance for marijuana users from a conservative standpoint. For some companies, this may mean charging standard smoker rates, while for other insurers, marijuana use may result in a decline of coverage altogether. Fortunately for marijuana users, a handful of insurance companies have taken a proactive approach to marijuana underwriting.

An important key to qualifying for life insurance as a marijuana user is choosing the right insurance company.

In many instances, marijuana users can qualify for affordable life insurance rates (even preferred rates) depending on the frequency of use, delivery method, and the insurance company.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “marijuana use has increased since 2007. In 2013, there were 19.8 million current users—about 7.5 percent of people aged 12 or older—up from 14.5 million (5.8 percent) in 2007.”

The underwriting considerations related to marijuana will routinely include the mode and frequency of use, whether THC is present in blood or urine, recreational vs. medicinal use, underlying conditions for medical marijuana, and other considerations. In evaluating marijuana use, certain insurance companies may classify applicants who smoke marijuana as tobacco users, while others may offer non-tobacco rates or even preferred pricing.

The type of marijuana products used is a common consideration in underwriting life insurance for marijuana users. Given the negative health consequences associated with smoking in general, it is understandable that some insurers classify applicants who smoke marijuana as “smokers” or tobacco users. It is important to note the significance of the tobacco vs. non-tobacco classification since premium rates for tobacco users can be DOUBLE that of non-tobacco users. In contrast, some insurers take a somewhat more liberal view of other modes of use such as vaporizers, edibles, oils, sprays, creams, and others.

The frequency of an individual’s marijuana use can also have a significant impact on policy approval and premium rates depending on the insurance company. In some ways, these standards can be similar to cigar smoking guidelines allowing occasional use within certain limitations. As an example, with certain insurance companies, if you use marijuana once a month, disclose use, and have no THC in your system, you can possibly get “preferred best” rates provided you are otherwise qualified. Whereas, if you use marijuana three or four times per month, you are likely looking at “standard non-tobacco” rates, which are higher but still less than smoker rates. However, if you use it several times each week, you may be lucky to qualify for tobacco rates or could possibly be declined coverage.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, is the compound in marijuana that provides the psychoactive effects or “high.” THC may be consumed by smoking or otherwise using marijuana as vapor, edibles, oil, sprays, and other methods. This substance is also what shows up in the blood and /or urine tests conducted as part of the insurance medical exam. While select insurers are willing to accept traces of THC, most companies are not so forgiving. Therefore, it is best to minimize your risk by being THC-free when trying to get life insurance for marijuana users.

According to Healthline, marijuana may be detected in the urine based on quantity and frequency of use as follows:

• Occasional use (less than three times per week) – three days
• Moderate use (four or more times per week) – five to seven days
• Chronic use (daily use for long periods) – ten to fifteen days
• Heavy Use (several times per day) – thirty days or more

Smoking marijuana for recreational purposes is nothing new. However, its acceptance by certain life insurance companies is a more recent trend. As recreational use of the drug becomes more common and is legalized in additional states, it is likely that insurers will loosen marijuana-related underwriting requirements. However, it is important to understand that underwriting requirements for marijuana users is at the discretion of each individual insurer, with mode and frequency of use being key considerations for even the more “marijuana-friendly” insurance companies.

The medicinal use of marijuana has increased significantly in recent years. According to Harvard Medical School, “about 85% of Americans support legalizing medical marijuana, and it is estimated that at least several million Americans currently use it.”

The clinical acceptance of medical marijuana can be helpful in life insurance underwriting. However, the underlying health condition may still be a challenge. Medicinal marijuana is most commonly prescribed for chronic pain control and related conditions. In such situations, the insurance company will routinely require a comprehensive evaluation of the medical condition for which marijuana is prescribed.

In addition to the underwriting considerations discussed above, other common health and/or moral factors that may come into play include a history of alcohol or substance abuse, psychiatric conditions, criminal convictions, driving infractions, and other considerations. These factors combined with marijuana use may present a “red flag” to an insurance company and can negatively affect policy approval.

In evaluating an application of life insurance for marijuana users, the insurance company will routinely require a standard application and medical exam but may also request medical records and ask additional questions related to marijuana use. The combination of these requirements and information specifically related to marijuana use will be used to determine insurability and rate class. Questions that a marijuana user applying for life insurance could expect may include the following:

• Have you ever used any form of marijuana?
• Do you currently use marijuana products?
• What type of marijuana products do you use?
• What is the frequency of your marijuana use?
• When was the date of last marijuana use?
• Is marijuana use medicinal or recreational?
• If medicinal, do you have a medical marijuana card?
• If medicinal, what is the underlying condition?
• Have you ever had any drug-related legal convictions?
• Have you ever been convicted of a DUI or DWI?
• Do you have a history of alcohol or substance abuse?
• Do you have a history of psychiatric conditions?
• Have you had any inconsistencies in work history?

Also, we occasionally received questions related to potential repercussions for disclosing marijuana use to an insurance company when applying for a life insurance policy. Based on health privacy laws, specifically the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), insurance companies are not allowed to share your medical information. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, “the HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information.”

Please note that underwriting standards vary by individual insurer, so it is important to work with an experienced independent agent who has a working knowledge of various company underwriting policies as related to marijuana use.

The premiums an insured pays are based upon age, gender, assigned rate class, policy face amount, and length of coverage and can vary significantly by the insurance company and product selected.

As previously discussed, rate classes for marijuana users could range from PREFERRED BEST NON-TOBACCO to STANDARD TOBACCO, or even a decline of coverage based on the applicant’s individual situation. The following provides sample life insurance rates for both preferred best non-tobacco and standard tobacco rates for comparison.

Best Insurance Companies for Marijuana Users

Also, please be aware that individual company underwriting policies are subject to change at any time. The following companies are recommended based on our experience related to underwriting standards, marijuana policies, financial strength, and premium rates.

AIG

Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial

AIG

Lincoln Financial

Mutual of Omaha

Prudential

AIG

Tips for Marijuana Users Applying for Life Insurance

The first tip in getting affordable life insurance for marijuana users is to work with an experienced independent agent or broker. Independent agents have access to a number of top-rated companies and also routinely have a working knowledge of various underwriting policies.

This autonomy allows independent agents to recommend the insurance companies that best fit the individual applicant’s situation. As an example, an independent agent may recommend one company for an applicant who smokes marijuana once per year and another company for someone who uses marijuana once per week, based on the different underwriting policies of each insurer.

In some instances, marijuana users applying for life insurance may consider whether full disclosure is in their best interest. However, in our experience, honesty is always the best policy. After all, it is likely that evidence of the drug’s use will show up in lab tests or medical records anyway, and if not disclosed, could result in a decline from even the more “marijuana-friendly” insurers. Whereas, if you provide complete and accurate information upfront, your agent can recommend the insurer that considers your specific situation most favorably. Also, in addition to being dishonest, lying on an insurance application can be considered misrepresentation or even fraud.

In comparing underwriting policies among top-rated life insurance companies, there are often significant differences in rate classes assigned to various medical and lifestyle factors. The use of marijuana is one such lifestyle choice that may be viewed differently depending on the insurance company that you select.

As an example, one insurer may approve occasional marijuana use for preferred best non-tobacco rates, while another may assign standard tobacco rates. This variance in underwriting class between companies could result in the policyholder paying twice as much in policy premiums. “Choosing the best insurance company” refers to selecting the insurer that most favorably views your type and frequency of marijuana use and other individual underwriting considerations. This choice can mean the difference in policy approval, as well as thousands of dollars in premiums over the life of the policy.

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