Just a tip regarding this info. I talked to my father about it and he said that if you get insurance as a non-smoker and get sick you could be in trouble.
If you go into the hospital and they do a blood test and find nicotine in your system in amounts similar to a smoker they can cancel your insurance. They are especially likely to do this if you are costing them a bunch of money because you are really sick.
Now whether or not they will test for nicotine is up to chance. The insurance company would probably have to request they do it based on past medical records.
Just to be safe though, I'd weight the benefit of non-smoker savings vs. the potential devastation of being dreadfully ill in the hospital and having your insurance cancelled.
Personally I'm nearing 30 years old this August and I don't even have any health insurance. So this issue doesn't even really apply to me. I just mentioned this stuff to my father and he said to be careful. So I thought I'd give you guys a heads up, just in case.
-Danyulc
Well said, and your dad is wise. He is technically correct about the potential of having a policy canceled after testing for nicotine while claiming to be a non-smoker.
I said, "technically" because the feds passed new insurance reg laws in 08 or 09 that address the issue of 'pre existing' or family history issues. After either two or three years [not sure which] the insurance company cannot suddenly decide to cancel you. I might start smoking again two, five, or ten years after buying a policy. I am under no obligation to call the insurer to say, "I just started smoking, so you can raise my premiums."
A lawyer friend studied the fed case law, and used this analogy: If you claimed that nobody in your family died of a heart attack before the age 50, but later your sister did just that, you do NOT have to inform the insurance company.
What you said on the application was correct
at the time, to the best of your knowledge. That does not mean it would remain correct forever.
But I think your dad is still right. It's not worth the potential problems of losing insurance.
And I had no insurance at your age either. But at 70, and many of my friends dropping dead or requiring health care, I have to do something.
If I had no children, I would not care, but I cannot pass my burden to them.
