Pretending to be a smoker

mike004

I'm in my 50s, a non-smoker in reasonable health.
Come the time when I need to buy an annuity, what is to stop me claiming to be a smoker? I will thus get a larger annuity, because of expected decreased life expectancy?

I'm sure other people have tried this

davetrousers

Are you suggesting fraud?

mike004

davetrousers wrote: »

Are you suggesting fraud?

I'm interested to know how the insurance companies can ever confirm or disprove the fact if someone claims to smoke. Even with a medical examination, its hard to prove either way.

sulkisu

mike004 wrote: »

I'm interested to know how the insurance companies can ever confirm or disprove the fact if someone claims to smoke. Even with a medical examination, its hard to prove either way.

Insurance companies don't need to prove something like this, beyond all reasonable doubt. It is quite a common scenario and all they need to do is make a decision based on probabilities, and what they think is likely. The likelihood of someone being a non- smoker for most (if not all) of their adult life and then turning 60 and suddenly deciding to take up smoking, is slim. You are not the first person to think of this. Insurance companies are not generally known for their stupidity or generosity. They will not pay out and the burden will be on you to prove that you are now a x a day smoker.

HappyMJ

You can't pretend...but there is nothing stopping you actually taking up the habit and when they ask to do a test to confirm you are a smoker you'll be confident that you will pass. They can do urine tests and saliva tests to confirm your exposure to nicotine.

Of course I would not recommend it but it's the only way you can do it. Once you have your increased pension you'll need NHS help to quit. Good luck you might like it be addicted and die early.

mike004

sulkisu wrote: »

Insurance companies don't need to prove something like this, beyond all reasonable doubt. It is quite a common scenario and all they need to do is make a decision based on probabilities, and what they think is likely. The likelihood of someone being a non- smoker for most (if not all) of their adult life and then turning 60 and suddenly deciding to take up smoking, is slim. You are not the first person to think of this. Insurance companies are not generally known for their stupidity or generosity. They will not pay out and the burden will be on you to prove that you are now a x a day smoker.

So, the insurance company have me down on record as either a smoker or non-smoker?
Presumably, I ticked a box when I signed up for my pension in my 20s. At that time I was a smoker. But I'm not now.

mike004

HappyMJ wrote: »

Once you have your increased pension you'll need NHS help to quit. Good luck you might like it be addicted and die early.

I gave up smoking in my 30s using just will power. YPeople don't need NHS help to quit smoking.

zygurat789

HappyMJ wrote: »

You can't pretend...but there is nothing stopping you actually taking up the habit and when they ask to do a test to confirm you are a smoker you'll be confident that you will pass. They can do urine tests and saliva tests to confirm your exposure to nicotine.

Of course I would not recommend it but it's the only way you can do it. Once you have your increased pension you'll need NHS help to quit. Good luck you might like it be addicted and die early.

I smoked for years, about 20 per day, and was always honest about it.
I am now told that unless I smoke 10 per day I am not considered for impaired life annuity rates. I haven't had a cigarette for about 2 to 3 years I think, however, I still take nicotine, but they won't wear it.
Let's have some honesty from the insurance companies.

indebtinsussex

hi, I work in finance and have often wondered this, after speaking to an underwriter, basically from what I understand is that if you put down smoker on your status when applying for an enhanced rate annuity for smokers they will do random checks and can find out through saliva tests, hair tests etc. the tests are fantastic nowdays, I had a client apply for life cover as a non smoker, had a contine test done and they proved that he had had some about 3 months previously on a night out.

dunstonh

I am now told that unless I smoke 10 per day I am not considered for impaired life annuity rates.

Smoking wont get you impaired rates by itself. It just gets you onto enhanced rates. You need a poor medical history to get onto impaired. Even those that have given up or reduced smoking in recent years can potentially get enhanced terms.