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Life > Alcohol Impact

Alcohol use can have an impact on how much you pay for a life insurance policy, or if you get one at all. The Society of Actuaries claims that abusing alcohol can take ten to fifteen years off of your life on average. Even though there is evidence that alcohol can reduce the length of your life, insurance companies do not have clear rules about defining a problem drinker or alcoholic.

During the application process, you can expect to be asked about your alcohol use, and further investigation may take place based on this answer. Many questions regarding your medical history can allow life insurance companies to get an idea about your alcohol use. There are certain medical conditions that are associated with alcohol use.

Elevated liver enzymes are one thing looked for in a blood test. Their presence suggests that there is something wrong with your health, whether it is alcohol-related or not. Drunk driving convictions are usually taken as indicators of alcohol use and can affect your premiums adversely.

If an insurer finds your alcohol use to be questionable, they can still issue the policy, offer you a more expensive policy, postpone, or altogether decline your application.

You can reduce your costs by showing that you are changing your alcohol consumption habits. You will need to make sure that your health is extensively documented by a physician after you make the change. Your liver enzyme levels will need to be monitored. If you manage to improve your health and the alcohol impact, you should be able to qualify for lower premiums. If your current insurer doesn't care about the improvements, another might, so shop around.