Can You Get Life Insurance If You Are An Alcoholic?

  1. 1805 POINTS
    Samuel Smith
    Enrolled Agent-licensed to practice before the IRS, Samuel N Smith, EA, South Carolina
    The insurance companies look at several factors in determining if they wish to issue the policy for life insurance coverage. You say you are an alcoholic. Are you being treated for kidney problems? What is your record as far as being arrested for public drunkeness or stopped and issued a DUI citation. Are you able to hold a regular job? The liklihood that you would be denied coverage with a "standard" company is high. There are "guaranteed issue" life insurance policies such as "final expense" policies that you may find available.
    Answered on November 23, 2013
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  2. 63333 POINTS
    Peggy Mace
    Most of the U.S.
    If you are a recovering alcoholic who has abstained from alcohol for a number of years, you can get life insurance at a competitive rate with persons who are not alcoholics. If you have been through treatment one or more times and are drinking now, you will probably need to purchase a simplified or guaranteed issue policy.
    Answered on November 25, 2013
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  3. 21750 POINTS
    Jim Winkler
    CEO/Owner, Winkler Financial Group, Houston, Texas
    Great question! The one thing that we really need to know about life is that our actions always seem to have consequences that we are never aware of...Alcoholism is one of those, as I'm sure you have learned.  If you are working on your sobriety, awesome! My prayers and support are with you.  If you have been sober for a while, and have not had any major health issues as a result of the disease, you can purchase a good insurance policy. If there have been issues as a result of your drinking, there are still policies that you can get, however they will typically be more expensive ( called graded, modified, or guaranteed issue policies) and they will have a period of time where your payout is limited to what you paid in, plus some interest. I hope that helps, if not, please feel free to contact me. Thanks for asking!
    Answered on April 21, 2014
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  4. 5877 POINTS
    Stan Cox II
    Insurance Adviser - Broker, SC Insurance Services, Oahu, Hawaii
    Being an alcoholic doesn't prohibit you from obtaining life insurance. Alcoholism is accepted as a disease and if controlled it really doesn't impact you. Certainly it poses some degree of risk and that would be considered in the underwriting process. There may well be a rating applied and thus a higher premium required than for a person who is not an alcoholic and has all other conditions the same, but insurance is obtainable.
    Answered on June 2, 2015
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