Life insurance for “ex-drinker”

hodd

I’m after life insurance to cover a mortgage of about £100K. I’m very fit and healthy, but I used to drink too much, well 40 units a week which isn’t healthy but a fairly common amount (half a bottle of wine a day) in the UK unfortunately.

I struggled to quit the booze, saw my GP, was referred to a counsellor (saw once), took some pills for five weeks and stopped drinking forever (true) at the end of 2018.

As I say, I’m very healthy now, but as I saw my GP about alcohol consumption, I will have to declare this on any insurance application.

I’m sure I’ll get cover. I’ve asked a broker who’s getting me some quotes, but I wonder if anyone else here had minor problems with alcohol which they discussed with a GP and then took out insurance? Any problems? Should I wait a while as I took the medication (which helped reduce cravings) within the last twelve months.

By the way, even if were uninsurable, I’m glad I went to my GP. One of the best things I’ve ever done 👍🍺

Weighty1

Most insurers ask if you've ever been advised to cut down or at least within the last 10-years. If you are now tea total getting you cover should be fairly easy, provided there's not been any complications arising from the excess alcohol intake, such as an mental health issues or abnormal liver function tests.

Time since you last drank will definitely result in more favourable terms as time progresses but it's probably still a little soon to get the standard premium. I'd expect a loading of around 50-75% on the standard premium, which whilst it sounds a lot is actually only a small loading from an insurance perspective.

Well done on quitting.

hodd

Thanks, the irony is I’m probably doing better than many “moderate” drinkers. As well as blood/liver function tests being OK, I paid the equivalent of £150 overseas to have a liver fibroscan which measures the liver stiffness (soft supple liver good, hard scarred liver bad) and was fine with no detectable liver fat. In retrospect, I didn’t need to see my GP and no one would have been any the wiser. However, it did give me the incentive to kick the booze once and for all.

Derailing my own thread �� but 40 units (half a bottle of wine or 2 cans of beer a day) really is playing Russian roulette with your health in terms of liver disease and also several types of cancer.

Saying that, if someone can genuinely drink in moderation, fair play. I couldn’t so I quit.

hodd

Weighty1 wrote: »

Most insurers ask if you've ever been advised to cut down

Anyone who drinks every day will almost certainly go over the weekly 14 unit limit. That’s a tiny amount, maybe five cans of beer a week.

I’ve looked into the reason for this figure, and it’s very valid indeed. Therefore, anyone slightly overweight or with elevated blood pressure may be asked by their GP about their drinking. If they’re on, say, 20 units a week, which is a glass of wine a day, the GP will recommend they cut down and presumably write this on the records. What happens then if that person gets an alcohol-related disease and dies? The insurance company may well see the medical records and the GP recommendation.’

Weighty1

hodd wrote: »

Anyone who drinks every day will almost certainly go over the weekly 14 unit limit. That’s a tiny amount, maybe five cans of beer a week.

I’ve looked into the reason for this figure, and it’s very valid indeed. Therefore, anyone slightly overweight or with elevated blood pressure may be asked by their GP about their drinking. If they’re on, say, 20 units a week, which is a glass of wine a day, the GP will recommend they cut down and presumably write this on the records. What happens then if that person gets an alcohol-related disease and dies? The insurance company may well see the medical records and the GP recommendation.’

Insurers don't typically decline claims for unnecessary reasons so if a client who was drinking more than the recommended amount, but still within the insurers tolerances, was advised to cut down then you'd still expect a full claim to be made. If the drinking was obviously problematic and the patient was told to cut down due to significant health reasons then a claim probably would be declined. Most insurance providers are far more lenient than the government guidelines. Scottish Widows, for example, allow up to 52-units/week before they start increasing the premiums IF no other drink related issues are present. This is about the most lenient stance on the market but most company allow up to 35 units without concern.

hodd

No problems getting life insurance cover with Scottish Widows. I’ll need a GP report. This is way over the top, but I’ll have done all I can to ensure cover is valid.

In two to three years time, assuming I’m still teetotal (no ex-drinker can take this for granted), I’ll look for other quotes.

I also wanted income protection as I’m self employed. There are less options here. It’s amazing that I’m put in the same category as a complete drunkard, but that’s the way drinkers are seen.

Interesting they ask about height, weight and trouser size (yes!) Hopefully none of us put on weight after taking out insurance!