Life Insurance and smoking...

wildballoonlady

6 years ago I had to tell Friends Provident that husband does tend to smoke from 'time to time'. When we'd started the policy in 2002 he was down as non smoker (he said). When I realised he did still, I was worried this would invalidate any claim so thought owning up was best. They replied "...I am pleased to confirm that you smoking does not affect your policy's terms and conditions whilst the policy remains in full force as we do not amend smokers rates once the policy is up and running..." i have this still in writing.

How does this stop people being dishonest saying they are a non smoker then change it later when all along they smoked? If I want to change policies is husband either classed as smoker or non smoker? He is not heavy smoker and does it on the quiet, he won't own up to it but I know he does. Thanks.

dunstonh

How does this stop people being dishonest saying they are a non smoker then change it later when all along they smoked?

Doctors/GP reports will have smoker status recorded on them and the date they were first told. There are also tests on death that can be performed that give an indication of amount and length of time someone smoked.

It sounds like FP have assumed he started smoking after you started the policy. However, it sounds like you are suggesting he smoked before this. In which case, this would be intentional non-disclosure and would allow the insurance company to invalidate a claim.

wildballoonlady

Thank you - I hadn't thought of that. I assumed they understood it to mean he was a light smoker before the policy. This will need looking into as he was a very heavy smoker in his 20's/30's. So when looking for a new quote is it just classed as smoking or non smoking or is there a third type of light smoker?

wildballoonlady

That is he was a light smoker in the 5 years leading up to the start of the policy but previous to that he'd been heavy.

dunstonh

Hes a smoker. No other category applies to him.

wildballoonlady

Ok thanks dunstonh - looks as if I'd better get some quotes in asap as present policy looks invalid. I wonder how many spouses out there think they are fully covered for event of death and not realise that by the other half smoking on the quiet they would gt nothing.

I dread to think what difference a smoker makes to cost per month.

koexelek

dunstonh wrote: »

Hes a smoker. No other category applies to him.

Most companies will expect someone to have given up totally for at least a year before they class them as a non smoker

wildballoonlady

Thanks I'll bear that in mind. I've just checked with Cavendish online and a quote for both of us with one down as smoker it jumps from our present £36 per month to £123. quite amazing. I will check to see if his work offers anything at death, might be a way of reducing the amount needed.

dunstonh

The jump shouldnt be as much as that. Was there possibly something else changed that caused an increase?

wildballoonlady

I put in £200,000 rather than what it is at moment £150,000. We are both in mid 40's. Also I wasn't entirely clear on some of the options to be clicked on. I was looking for ball park figure but I may need to review what I asked for.