Health Insurance & Smoking
- denise299
- Oct 7, 2014
- 2 min read
When the U.S. government came forth with news in the early 1960s that cigarette smoking was injurious to health, it touched off a nearly 40-year-long debate. Today there is little doubt that smoking causes a variety of illnesses and diseases. As a result, all health insurance companies actively discriminate against smokers. While most insurers won't completely deny coverage to a smoker, they will protect themselves against the increased risk of a smoking-related illness claim.
Effect On Your Premiums
The dollar difference between premiums for smokers is always dramatically higher than for non-smokers. While the premiums vary among the major health insurance companies, and some plans are still "affordable" for a smoker, smokers always pay far higher premiums whether they are private-pay plans or group plans.
Effect On All Participants
Unfortunately, the cost of taking care of smokers who become ill far surpasses the insurance premiums they paid for their policies. The losses that insurance companies incur for covering smokers benefits is passed on to other policyholders who do not smoke. If smokers sense hostility from their corporate insurance pool, this is the reason: smokers cost everyone in the system more money.
Applying for Health Insurance
All health insurance carriers ask applicants if they smoke, and how much. You must answer this question honestly. Lying won't work, for two reasons. First, many companies require blood and urine tests before coverage is granted. If you've been smoking lately, the results will be very evident. Not only will they know you smoke, but how much. Second, if you should develop a smoking-related illness later, the insurance company can deny you benefits based on the premise that you lied on the application.
Employer Health Policies
Most major corporations penalize smokers who are covered in their group insurance pool. You may be asked to pay more of your share of the total cost of coverage. You may also be required to take part in a quit-smoking program in order to maintain your group insurance. In some cases, if you then fail to quit smoking within a reasonable period, employers could drop you from group coverage.
Preexisting Conditions
Damage to your lungs as a result of long-term, heavy smoking could be counted as a preexisting condition, one that the insurance company may not have to cover if you become ill. The diagnosis of COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a precursor to emphysema and lung cancer which is almost always directly related to smoking, is an easy diagnosis that an insurance company can use to disqualify an applicant or a beneficiary.
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