How Alcohol Use Affects Life Insurance Costs

How much drinking is too much, when it comes to buying life insurance? Depending on the insurance company, even moderate drinking can have a significant impact on the amount you pay.

The Society of Actuaries claims abusing alcohol can take an average of 10 to 15 years off of your life. The most frequent cause of premature death from alcoholism is heart disease, followed by cancer, accidents and suicide.

Even though alcohol abuse can shorten your life expectancy, insurers don't have strict rules about when someone is a "problem drinker" or an "alcoholic." "Underwriting is more of an art than a science when it comes to determining the risks associated with alcohol," says Christopher Graham, vice president and chief underwriter for Hartford Life.

Insurers will generally ask you about your alcohol use, as part of the application process. Underwriters rarely deny coverage simply based on this answer, but it could prompt further investigation into your alcohol use.

Life insurance applications also include questions about your medical history that insurers can use to gain insight into your alcohol use. While alcohol has the potential to damage every organ in the body, certain medical conditions are often strongly associated with alcohol use.

If you were required to give a blood sample as part of your life insurance application, the insurer will usually test your blood for the presence of liver enzymes. Elevated liver enzymes may signal alcohol-related medical problems.

Elevated liver enzymes can also suggest there is something seriously wrong with your health that isn't related to drinking. Some insurers will postpone a decision on a life insurance application until you and your doctor can determine the reason your liver isn't functioning normally. Once you have pinpointed the problem, your insurance application can proceed.

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Better way is to get Alcoholism Treatment.