If the company requires a paramedical exam with blood, urine or saliva they will know because the test for nicotine. Otherwise the company takes your word for it. If you lie on an application and it is later found out the company can refuse to pay a claim if a death occurs within two years of the policy issue date. You may also be required to pay back the difference in premium or have your policy rescinded and your premiums returned.
It is amazing how a life insurance company can find out you smoke.
They test urine and blood for cotinine/nicotine, if you take an exam.
They usually do a phone interview if you don't take an exam, so you have to state your smoking status both in writing and verbally.
They may order medical records. I once had a client who turned out to be rated a smoker, and when I asked him about it, he said he didn't think there was any way the insurance company would find out because he didn't smoke for a month before the exam and even his doctor did not know he was a smoker. It turned out his wife had told his doctor he smoked! He may have been able to contest that by taking a new exam, but he, of course, was back to smoking by then.
If you smoke, just admit it. If you quit smoking later, you can apply for a rate reduction a year after smoking.
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They test urine and blood for cotinine/nicotine, if you take an exam.
They usually do a phone interview if you don't take an exam, so you have to state your smoking status both in writing and verbally.
They may order medical records. I once had a client who turned out to be rated a smoker, and when I asked him about it, he said he didn't think there was any way the insurance company would find out because he didn't smoke for a month before the exam and even his doctor did not know he was a smoker. It turned out his wife had told his doctor he smoked! He may have been able to contest that by taking a new exam, but he, of course, was back to smoking by then.
If you smoke, just admit it. If you quit smoking later, you can apply for a rate reduction a year after smoking.