How is tobacco use determined for underwriting, and how can recent quitting affect ratings?

• A. Tobacco use is determined by self-report and sometimes cotinine/lab tests; recent quitters may qualify for non-tobacco rates after a defined period, depending on policy guidelines.
• B. Tobacco use is determined by height.
• C. No effect on rates.
• D. Cotinine tests are never used.

Answer: (A)

Underwriting tobacco use centers on whether the applicant currently uses tobacco, because tobacco status affects risk and premiums. The main method is self-report, but many insurers also verify with tests for nicotine metabolites such as cotinine when there’s doubt or for certain products. Recent quitters can qualify for non-tobacco rates after a defined period of abstinence, which is set by policy guidelines and can vary; once they have stayed nicotine-free for that period, their rating can improve to non-tobacco rates. The exact length of the abstinence period and any lab verification depend on the insurer and the product. So tobacco use isn’t determined by height, and it does influence rates; cotinine testing is indeed used in some cases.