How Does Marijuana Use Affect Life Insurance?

Use marijuana and need life insurance?  Since 2009 we have been helping clients get approved for life insurance who use marijuana.  Whether you smoke, vape, or ingest it, contact us today for confidential help.

If you work with the wrong insurance agent, you may be declined for coverage or pay smoker rates.  We will walk you through the process and help get you approved as a nonsmoker.  This will save you a lot of money on your life insurance.  Contact us now or read below to learn more about life insurance and marijuana use.

Watch the short video to learn a few keys things you should know about getting approved for life insurance with marijuana use.

There are several misconceptions about marijuana usage and life insurance.  The main reason is because it is largely still considered an illegal substance.

It doesn’t matter where you live, or whether your state has approved either the recreational use or medicinal use of marijuana, you are still eligible for life insurance.  We have worked with clients from California to New York who smoke marijuana and got them approved for life insurance; 99% at a nonsmoker rate.  If you have smoked cigarettes in the last year, you may pay smoker rates.  However, we will make sure you pay the lowest rate possible; smoker or nonsmoker.

Quick Tip:  If you smoke marijuana less than 3 times per week and do not smoke cigarettes nor have any major health issues, use the following information for Instant Quotes:

  • Health Class:  Regular Plus
  • Smoker/Tobacco:  No
  • Display quotes and look at Prudential rates
  • If you have any other health conditions – please call us and we will help you find the lowest rate on your life insurance.  There are a handful of companies that offer nonsmoker rates to marijuana users and we will guide you to the best life insurance (with the lowest premiums) to use for your particular situation.

Legal Rights of Marijuana Users and Life Insurance

You might be very reluctant to admit smoking marijuana because you could be concerned about your privacy. So, let’s get this major misconception out of the way first.

When you apply for a life insurance policy, you might be worried that your marijuana usage can be used against you by law enforcement agents, or that your employer might become aware of your smoking habits, or that an insurance company will automatically turn you down.

Neither of the above scenarios is true.  Your rights are completely protected under the HIPPA laws (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 1996) and enforced by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights which guarantees the “privacy of individually identifiable health information.”

This means that any and all of your information that you disclose to an insurance agent, an insurance company or a health provider who is giving you a medical exam for a life insurance examination is strictly private and completely confidential.

Any medical information that you provide, and this includes marijuana usage, cannot be revealed to anyone including law enforcement agencies, your employer or even your spouse.

Will I Be Required To Take A Medical Exam?

You will not necessarily need to take an exam.  However, if you want to get the absolute lowest rates on coverage, then you will want

How does marijuana use affect life insurance

We can get you approved as a nonsmoker even if you use marijuana. A smoker will pay 4x more than a nonsmoker.

to go with a fully underwritten policy that requires an exam.  We represent all of the major leading life insurance companies, with and without an exam, and will guide you to the best company to use for your policy and based on your wants … lowest price, no exam, etc.

We have a handful of companies that do not ask about marijuana use on their application.  Therefore, there is no need to disclose it with these companies.  These will not be the least expensive polices.  However, if you don’t want to admit to use, this will be the best way to go.  Companies are often changing their rules so contact us to see which companies currently don’t ask about cannabis use.

You might be under the impression that you can get away with not admitting to smoking to marijuana, but the medical examiner will likely take a blood test and urine test.  One of the primary ingredients of marijuana is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and this substance can be detected from a couple days up to several weeks after you last ingested pot.  Detection will depend on the frequency of use, amount used, weight and body fat.

The point is that you should never lie about smoking marijuana or about how much you consume on a weekly or monthly basis. Always be up front and honest about your usage because you don’t have to worry about any type of negative repercussion.  Lying on a life insurance application is fraud and you don’t want to risk the life insurance death benefit not being paid out due to fraud.

It’s also vital that you be upfront with your life insurance agent as they can advise you on how your marijuana usage will have an impact in how you will be rated.  My job as your life insurance advisor is to get you approved for the lowest priced policy that meets your needs.

Does Life Insurance for Marijuana Cost More Because It’s Illegal?

This is another common misconception held by many people who avoid buying life insurance because they think their marijuana usage is going to cost them the proverbial arm and a leg.

It doesn’t matter what state you live in or what laws apply, the legality of marijuana is not an issue for life insurance companies. Even if you work in the marijuana industry, we can help you get approved for life insurance at low rates.

However, different companies rate different situations or conditions according to their specific rating criteria so each company will charge you different premiums.  Some companies are much more lenient while others are more conservative.  If you have a medical marijuana card and need life insurance, you can get the best nonsmoker rate (if you use the right company).

If you have questions or concerns about your privacy or the confidentiality about your marijuana usage then you can talk to any of our agents at Abrams Insurance Solutions at 858-703-6178 and we will be happy to help you.

How Do Life Insurance Companies View Smoking Marijuana?

Life insurance rates for marijuana smoking

Due to privacy laws, you WILL NOT get in trouble for admitting marijuana use on your life insurance application, regardless of the laws in your state.

For most companies, a marijuana smoker is essentially treated the same as any other smoker or consumer of nicotine products.

There are many contradictory medical studies about marijuana usage and whether it negatively impacts your health.  As a result of this confusion, the majority of life insurance companies simply treat marijuana users the same as any other smoker of tobacco products.

And, more importantly, if you are only an occasional recreational user then you can still actually qualify for “Non-Smoker Rates” with some, but not all life insurance carriers.

As we said earlier, some insurers are much more lenient than others.  There are number of life insurance companies that will charge the same rates for someone who only smokes a few cigarettes a year the same way as a pack a day user.

Conversely, there are a number of companies that will allow the consumption of several marijuana joints per month or even a couple per week, and will still qualify you as a non-smoker where you can get a preferred non-smoking rating.

No Medical Exam Life Insurance for Marijuana Users

There are plenty of life insurance companies which now offer No Exam Life Insurance. These policies cost a little bit more to buy but you can avoid having to take a medical exam and can get a policy in a week or so. If you can’t stand needles, need a policy fast, or convenience is important; then this might be a good fit for your situation.  Contact us to learn which no exam life insurance company will be best for your situation.

How Can a Marijuana User Can Find The Best Life Insurance Policy?

How do you find the most lenient life insurers to get the cheapest policy?  That’s an easy one to answer.

You should always use an independent agent who knows how life insurers treat marijuana and which ones may offer a nonsmoker rate to a MJ user.  An independent agent has access to numerous companies, so an independent agent knows which companies are the most lenient and which companies charge the lowest rates.

At Abrams Insurance Solutions, we have access to over 70 life insurance companies, so we not only comparison shop for you but we can find the most lenient companies that will issue the most affordable rates.  We have been saving clients money on their life insurance since 2009.

Call us right now at 858-703-6178 as we can get the process started right away to get you insured.

Marijuana Friendly Life Insurance Companies

You may be surprised to learn that there are Marijuana-Friendly Life Insurance Companies. These are life insurance companies that offer nonsmoker rates to marijuana smokers.  Surprised!?!  Here is the deal.  There are hundreds of life insurance companies in America.  When you apply and admit to marijuana use – there are 3 possible outcomes:

  1. Declined for life insurance
  2. Approved as a smoker
  3. Approved as a nonsmoker

life insurance rates and marijuana useIt is imperative to apply with a company that will approve you as a nonsmoker.  These are the companies that we use for our clients.

If you do smoke cigarettes, then you will be classified as a smoker and pay smoker rates.  However, paying smoker rates is better than being declined.   We will also make sure that you get the lowest smoker rate available for your situation.

I can’t stress the importance of working with an independent agent that represents all of the marijuana friendly life insurance companies.  Questions? Call us today and we will help get you approved with a Cannabis friendly life insurance company.

Life Insurance Companies that don’t ask about Marijuana Use

I would consider these Marijuana EXTRA Friendly Life Insurance Companies.  There are some life insurance companies that don’t have questions on their application about marijuana use. If the question is not asked, you don’t need to disclose your marijuana use.  Here is one guaranteed issue option that will provide up to $50,000 of coverage for those between 18 and 50.  If you are over 50, there are other guaranteed issue options that may be less expensive for you.

These are also no-exam companies so no need to worry about THC showing up in your urine.  They won’t be the cheapest option, but they are the best option if you want to keep your marijuana use private.  Contact us and we can run quotes and help you apply with these companies.

Medical Marijuana Use Versus Recreational Marijuana Use

Now, some states allow for the medical prescription of marijuana for a variety of medical conditions and purposes.  We should tell you right now that if you are currently having marijuana medically prescribed, the insurer will want to know more about the medical reason you were given this prescription.

Don’t be too concerned because many medical conditions are not only very treatable; they may also be such that they have no effect on your life expectancy.

This means that your rating may not be impacted at all because many medical conditions are not life threatening.  If you do have a more serious health issue then you will have to be evaluated accordingly.

Again, this is another reason why you should get your policy through an independent agent like us because we can discuss your particular health situation and provide you with all the information you need to know about your medical condition.

We can even provide you with possible options so you can make an informed choice.

What is the Most Affordable Life Insurance Policy For Marijuana Users?

The most affordable and the least inexpensive life insurance policy that you can buy is “Term Life Insurance.”

Term life insurance is the most basic type of policy available because it pays out death benefits only.  Although this type of policy covers you for life, you buy a policy in periods of time such as 20 or 30 years.

Most policies also have a conversion feature which allows you to convert your term policy to a permanent policy such as Whole Life, Universal Life or Indexed Universal Life for example.

All you have to do is to first select your beneficiary who would receive a lump sum, tax deferred settlement should you pass away unexpectedly while the policy is in force.  Your family can use the money in any manner they choose or need to do so.

The next thing would be to select the length of the term that you want the policy to last to financially protect your loved ones, and to choose the amount of death benefits you need.

This last step is a bit trickier than you might think because most Americans who have a life insurance policy are actually under insured which puts them at risk.

To help you calculate how much you might need, then please refer to our handy life insurance needs calculator, which will help you calculate your life insurance needs based on your current financial situation.

Bottom Line

At Abrams Insurance Solutions, we have gotten many of our life insurance clients who smoke marijuana occasionally not only the best rate classes, but the best nonsmoker rate class.  A policy for a smoker will cost about 4 times more than the same policy for a nonsmoker!

Also, choose your term wisely because if it expires and you go to renew, it could cost a lot more because life insurance is more expensive to buy as you age or if your health has deteriorated.

life insurance and cannabis useIf you still have any questions about life insurance and marijuana usage or about a particular health condition, then call us at 858-703-6178. We look forward to working with you and will help you get approved and save money on your life insurance.