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Life insurance with a History of Drug Abuse

Researcher & Writer
April 07, 2020

Drug abuse can drastically alter the course of a person’s life, and all too often, causes it to end abruptly and unnecessarily early. This is why life insurance companies want to know about your drug history.

If you have a history of drug use, this may affect your eligibility for life insurance even if you are currently clean. But keep reading; there is still a chance that you may find a life insurance company willing to underwrite a policy for you.

What if I am a past drug user?

A life insurance company will want to know more than if you’ve tried cocaine, meth, or heroine before. Simple one-time experimentation isn’t enough to get rejected from a policy. Companies will want to know a lot more, including:

  • How long you used illicit drugs
  • How regularly you used
  • Were you ever hospitalized due to drugs
  • If you have any further complications caused by drugs (heart problems, HIV, etc)
  • How long you have been living a drug-free life
  • If you have ever relapsed
  • If you are seeking professional or program help to ensure sobriety

These questions will help an insurance company to determine your risk of future incidents or even a potential overdose. Although the answers to these questions don’t guarantee anything, they will help the insurance provider to get a clearer picture of your drug history in hopes of understanding your future.

Most people with a history of drug abuse will face trouble securing a standard policy and will instead be considered high risk life insurance. If three or more years have passed without any kind of relapse or withdrawal, and you have not damaged any of your organs, you may still qualify for a standard policy, with at most, a very minimal increase to your premium.

If you have ever been hospitalized for your addiction but have no major organ damage, you may qualify for an affordable policy.

It is important to remember that whether or not you qualify for the different types of life insurance policies is completely up to the individual company. One life insurance company may have different requirements than another; it is best to seek professional advice pertaining to your specific case.

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What if a life insurance company declines my application due to my drug history?

In some instances, a life insurance company may decline a policy for a past drug user. This may happen if the drug user has major organ damage, or has had several relapses. If this is you, then you can still apply for accidental death insurance or burial life insurance from one of the best burial and final expense insurance companies.

If you have been refused a life insurance policy in the past because of your drug history, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be refused again. Because more time has passed, and you have had more time to prove your sobriety (assuming you have not had any relapses), you may have a better chance of getting approved for a life insurance policy now than when you applied earlier.

What if I am a current drug user?

If you currently use drugs, it is going to be very difficult for you to secure a life insurance policy. It is important to remember that although this is true, you should never lie on your life insurance application. Even if you have no medical records stating you have been or are a drug user, it is still considered fraud to lie about your drug use.  If you die in a drug-related death within two years of obtaining your life insurance policy, there is a good chance that your life insurance provider will thoroughly investigate your past. If they find out – and they will – that you lied on your life insurance application, they will not be obligated to pay out your policy.

The best thing you can do if you are a current drug user is to quit using drugs, and then wait to apply for a life insurance policy. Alternatively, you can try to apply for a low-cost life insurance policy that may offer minimal coverage. Although this may not be the ideal situation, it is better to leave your loved ones with some provision rather than none.

How do I find the right life insurance company if I have a history of drug abuse?

If you are or have been a drug user, then you may have a more difficult time finding the right life insurance company and policy. You have a special case, and the best thing you can do is compare various companies and what they offer – and find out which ones will actually approve a policy for you. Sifting through dozens upon dozens of insurance providers is quite a cumbersome, time consuming and even confusing task.

If you need some help sifting through all the information, speak with a life insurance agent. They can help guide you to the right company and policy for you and your family.

Written by
TermLife2Go
We are a team of life insurance experts with the simple mission of helping you find the best coverage for your unique situation. We research, review, and rank life insurance companies to make that process easier.