Over the past few years, everything has really attended pot. We mean that literally: California had become the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996, and Colorado and Washington jointly (cough) legalized recreational weed this year. In 2021, the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment forbade the Justice Department from spending money on interfering in the utilization of medical cannabis where states take. Now, the nation has a state-by-state patchwork of laws and policies, with marijuana remaining illegal in the federal level. Support for legalizing pot recently reached an all-time high (cough, again), with 61% of respondents approving from it inside a recent Pew Research Center survey.
Which brings us, of course, to life insurance. If you are using marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes, it might affect the application and/or your policy. We can see you possess a few questions. So, here are a few answers.
I use marijuana for pleasure. Do I need to disclose that? Why (or why don't you)?
Yes. You need to be honest about this for the same reason you have to be honest about, say, smoking cigarettes or alcohol consumption: This stuff affect your rates, and failure to disclose them might affect whether your beneficiaries receive money down the road. (And in your mind, if your application process includes a blood test, your marijuana usage might show up in the results.) Lying during your application process might disqualify you against coverage-not just from this insurer, but all major insurers.
Interestingly, how you use it might affect your rate a lot more than whether you use it. According to PBS, 29 percent of insurers classify marijuana users as nonsmokers, potentially allowing you to be eligible for a a nonsmoker rate, which is typically lower. This might rely on how often you take in marijuana, too.
And get this: Not so long ago, disclosing marijuana use may have disqualified you for coverage altogether. However, for the most part, those times are behind us.
I use marijuana for medical reasons. Do I need to disclose that? Why (or why not)?
Yes. Within this sense, pot is much like every other medicine. It's not so much the truth that you're using it, however the proven fact that there's an underlying reason-i.e., the medical condition you're treating-that may affect your rate. Just like any other illness, you need to disclose it since it may affect your rates in addition to any eventual payout.
Am I putting myself in danger by disclosing which i use marijuana?
Short answer: No. Slightly longer answer: Your medical details are protected by HIPAA, and your potential insurer cannot share your medical information with the police (or your employer) without your permission.
Does it matter if I use marijuana frequently versus infrequently?
Yes. As stated before, the quantity of times you utilize marijuana per week might affect whether your insurer considers you a smoker. This varies by insurance provider. Also, just like heavy drinking, heavy pot usage might mark you as a higher risk for a number of maladies and accidents, and for that reason lead to an increase in your rate.
What about other recreational drugs, legal or not?
If you're abusing an illegal drug, you will likely be denied coverage. (Again, abuse will likely show up throughout a blood test within the application process.) Alcohol and tobacco use won't disqualify you from coverage unless it's significantly excellent or there's a history of abuse. You need to disclose all medicinal use of drugs during your application.
What if I have been fined or imprisoned for marijuana use / possession?
You'll need to acknowledge this on your application. (As is available probably determined by now, lying on your application is unwise.) Depending on when this occurred, and what the infraction was, you might be denied coverage or pay a higher rate. On the other hand, you might not. Transparency is the friend here.
Again, marijuana usage is much like other things when it comes to trying to get life insurance. The more honest looking it with your insurer during the process, the smoother your experience-and your beneficiaries' experience-will be.
