How do life insurance underwriters view individuals are alcoholics?

Finding life insurance for alcoholics will depend on how the underwriter views how well the disease is controlled. Several other factors will also be considered by the underwriter who is reviewing the application.

Primarily, the life insurance company will want to know about the degree of treatment received by the individual over the proceeding 24 months. The main concern is to ascertain whether the disease in under control and whether the alcohol consumption has caused any other health complications such as liver, kidney damage, or any possible brain dysfunction.

Another key information underwriters will want is to obtain about a person’s drinking history including:

  • When the person first started drinking
  • How many years the person was dependent on alcohol
  • How many drinks were consumed on a daily basis
  • Whether there were any withdrawal symptoms in the past 24 months
  • Whether the person is taking any medications to treat other complications as a result of the drinking

Another requirement by most company’s will be to see any Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) tests that you have received over the past 12 months. Life insurance for alcoholics is attainable but will be scrutinized closely.

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What are the health risks of alcoholism?

Alcoholism is a chronic but treatable disease. Alcoholism can result in becoming dependent on continued consumption. It is a serious impairment that requires treatment and possibly even therapy.

Chronic abuse of consuming excess amounts of alcohol can also result in other long term health effects. The resulting physical can cause anything from minor to severe damage to the liver such as cirrhosis or kidney damage and can contribute to kidney failure.

Other complications arising form the long term use of alcohol can also result in a variety of brain dysfunctions such as dementia or other cognitive complications. Excess consumption of alcohol is also considered as being a contributory cause to a variety of cancers such as mouth, liver, kidney, stomach, and pancreatic cancer.

Some of the more severe physical symptoms of chronic alcoholism include the DT’s (Delirium Tremors), hallucinations, and severe cognitive impairment. The social effects of alcoholism on a person’s life can result in job loss, accidents and can even result in death if left untreated.

Finding life Insurance for alcoholics

The life insurance coverage and the premium a person might be charged who has a condition of alcoholism can vary quite significantly among life insurance providers. A person should always remember that not every company is the same and some companies are much more liberal than others when it comes to qualifying for a policy.

If your disease has been under control for the previous 24 months, and your BAL tests are good, and there are no other complicating health factors, then you stand a very good chance in finding a life insurance provider that will not only provide coverage but will do so at fairly decent rating and premium.

For those who have more serious health issues or the disease is not under control there are other options to consider when it comes to finding a policy. A person might have to seek out those companies which specialize in providing high risk life insurance coverage or opt for other policies such as No Medical Exam life insurance coverage or a Guaranteed Death Policy.


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