RESOURCES - UNderwriting
Celebratory Cigar Usage - Nonsmoker Rates?

To qualify for a non-smoker program, all carriers require the client MUST be a Nonsmoker for 12 months, some longer. Any usage MUST be admitted to on the application. * The carriers listed below MUST have a negative specimen to qualify. All data must coincide with the admitted degree of usage. All other underwriting criteria must be met to qualify. Any carrier reserves the right to decline this offer if, in the sole discretion of the underwriter, the occasional cigar use would pose additional mortality risk due to other health conditions of the insured.

*Carriers with programs are as follows:

• Allianz – Occasional cigar use (no more than one or two per month) at nontobacco rates provided they have negative urinalysis. We'll allow the occasional cigar exception for any of the preferred classes except the best class, ultra-preferred
• American General – Occasional cigar may qualify for Nonsmoker rates subject to the following guidelines:
  
  • No more than one cigar per week may be smoked.
  • No nicotine in the urinalysis
    *No use of tobacco products, other than occasional cigars, for at least five years prior to time of application.
    If all criteria are met the best classification could be available.
• American National – Occasional cigar, up to two per month, negative urine can qualify for Preferred Plus.
• AXA – Occasional cigar may qualify for Preferred Elite Nonsmoker with one or two cigars per month. No nicotine in the urinalysis.
  * Incentive to stop use of tobacco products program, ask sales for further details
• AVIVA –Occasional cigar may qualify for Preferred Plus/Premier, Preferred or Standard Nonsmoker rates if no more than four cigars per month. No nicotine in the urinalysis.
  • No use of other tobacco or nicotine products within the last year. Must otherwise qualify for Preferred Plus, Preferred or Standard.
• Banner – Occasional celebratory cigar (one per month), negative urine, may qualify for Preferred Plus, Preferred or Standard Plus Nonsmoker.
• Genworth – Occasional cigar for Nonsmoker rates with usage limited to 12 or less per year. No nicotine in the urinalysis. Preferred Best is available if qualified
• Hartford – Occasional cigar, up to four per month, with negative urine may be Preferred Nonsmoker. (they have several guidelines for different amounts. If you have a particular scenario please advise)
• ING – Occasional celebratory cigar, no more then 1 per week, negative urine may qualify for Super Preferred Nonsmoker rates. No mention of tobacco usage in the past three years in records or on MIB.
• John Hancock – Occasional celebratory cigar may qualify for Super Preferred Nonsmoker rates assuming less then 1 cigar per month. No nicotine in the urinalysis. Possible Standard Plus if no more then 2 cigars per month, no nicotine in the urinalysis.
  * Incentive to quit program, ask sales for further details.
• Lincoln Benefit Life – Occasional cigar smoker may qualify for Preferred Nonsmoker assuming no more than one per month. No nicotine in the urinalysis. (Preferred Elite is not available)
• Lincoln National – Occasional cigar smoker possible Preferred Plus Nonsmoker assuming limited to 12 cigars or less per year and for Preferred 24 or less per year. No nicotine in the urinalysis.
• Met Life – Celebratory cigars (four or less per year) for top classes with negative urine test.
  • For Elite there must not be use of any form of nicotine, other than occasional cigars, for five years.
    * Pipes and smokeless tobacco with negative urine may qualify for Nonsmoker rates. The best classes will be Standard Plus and Preferred.
• Minn - Best class (preferred select) can be obtained with up to 12 cigars/year and negative specimen. For Preferred non tobacco, can have up to 24/year with a negative specimen.
• Nationwide – Occasional cigar, up to one per month, with negative urine may be Preferred Nonsmoker. Top rates not available.
• New York Life – Preferred possible with 1 -2 cigars per year. Must be negative for nicotine.
• Principal – 12 or less without nicotine may qualify for Preferred Nonsmoker. Must admit on application.
• Prudential – May qualify for Preferred Best or Preferred Non-Tobacco if tobacco usage only includes a celebratory cigar (not more than 2 per month) and negative urine results for nicotine or nicotine products..
• SBLI – For top class guideline is 12 or less cigars per year, complete disclosure in the application and lab work must be negative for nicotine.
• Sun Life – Occasional celebratory cigar, maximum three per month, negative urine may qualify for Nonsmoker rates. No mention of tobacco usage in the past three years in records or on MIB.
• Transamerica – Occasional celebratory cigar, no more than one per month, with negative urine for Nonsmoker rates(Top class is available if all other criteria is met).
• Union Central – no more then 6 per year, admitted to on app/exam, hos negative can qualify for Select NS or Standard NS
• United of Omaha – Occasional cigar usage(no more than 12 per year with negative urinalysis) is now acceptable for both preferred and preferred plus as well as Standard Plus classes. Previously, our criteria was no nicotine for 60 months, no exception.
• West Coast Life – Six celebratory cigars per year, with negative urine, may qualify for Super Preferred Nonsmoker rates.
  *Note – if the client is a smoker at the time of original issue, the waiting period is 2 years tobacco free to be changed to nonsmoker rates. If the client quit at the time of the application but less then 1 year the waiting period is 12 months tobacco free or at the first policy anniversary, assuming the client is tobacco free at anniversary.
• Western Reserve Life – 1 per month for Preferred. Must be negative and must admit to usage on application. Preferred Plus is not available.
• William Penn - Occasional celebratory cigar (one per month), with negative urine, for Preferred Plus or Standard Plus Nonsmoker rates