Life Insurance Form Question "Have you ever been a member of AA?"

Sober McHappy · Veteran Member

Life Insurance Form Question "Have you ever been a member of AA?"

Frodo · MIP Old Timer

Odd question really.

I don't think it's any of their business, and it probably wouldn't get asked here, but you Yanks have a weird deal with insurance and insurance companies, so maybe it's not that out of place.

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

I've never heard that one before. Is it an American company or Can-a-duh?

Fyne Spirit · MIP Old Timer

If you don't answer truthfully, the inurers will decline any claim if they find out and you will have thrown your premiums away. Try another company. My life insurance had some sort of question which I answered with the information that I was a recovered alcoholic. It had no effect on things.
But I can tell you from experience that if a claim is made on a life policy, they will do their best to avoid paying out if they think there is any deception in the information supplied on the proposal.

Mike.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

That IS an odd question as Frodo says ... if you answer 'yes', then you've broken the Tradition of anonymity ... and if you answer 'no' ... you've lied ...

Find a different company ... (Mike makes a good point too ...)

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

I had the exact same dilemma. Our life insurance through work was dropped just after I got sober. When we went to get our own, I was presented the same question on the papers. At that time, I was afraid and not so rigorously honest yet, and answered no. It didn't occur to me that they could come back and deny the funds if they found out the answer should have been yes. I'll have to look into this - thanks for bringing it up. It has been nagging at me anyway but I've been too lazy to do anything about it! Another gift!

Sober McHappy · Veteran Member

I live in Canada.

I've applied for insurance with two companies and both times the question has been asked.

s_lukin · Veteran Member

How exactly would the insurance company prove that you have or haven't been a member? Just because you attend meetings doesn't make you a member. If anything I would think being in AA would bring your premiums down.

Sober McHappy · Veteran Member

As for them denying my claim, I say good luck proving it.

Sober McHappy · Veteran Member

s_lukin wrote:
How exactly would the insurance company prove that you have or haven't been a member? Just because you attend meetings doesn't make you a member. If anything I would think being in AA would bring your premiums down.

Unfortunately it seems they think that if you've been a drunk you've either already done significant damage to your health or that there's a good chance you'll pick up again and shorten your life. Sadly their view is proved to be right more often than not.

mikef · MIP Old Timer

Hey Sober,blessings of this day,,

What we have is a dilemma of a spiritual nature......

We can be dishonest(never good) or we can break our own personal anonymity and take a chance....?

Alcohol Abuse History - Life insurance underwriters look for any history of abuse to determine your best rate. Any current abuse would be declined, but anyone who has been through treatment and clean, may be considered for coverage. We are sensitive to this and work with you to ensure that your information is kept private. We know how to secure favorable offers from various impaired risk life insurance companies.

You can check out this avenue and accomplish both ,be honest ,share your personal anonymity or pray for other options??

Continue seeking, I know for me not only being in remission but being 65 years young is not the brightest prospects for life insurance.At least uncle Sam will give me a 7 gun salute a little white cross when I am no longer.I had life insurance up North and was never asked that question,,if I was I would have to have had to dig deep(pray)and make a decision and leave the results to whom I prayed...

turninggrey · MIP Old Timer

Yo McHappy,
If I was a Jew in Nazi Germany, and I was asked if I was a Jew, I would say "No". The value of this is that just like the Nazi's had no right to ask (other than their guns and improperly gained political power) the insurance companies have no right to ask. I am sure that no test case has been done legally. In your case, you are right. It's anonymous. They are testing legal grounds, and its none of their damn business. Like another pointed out, are any of us members? What is your member number? Have you ever paid membership dues? You can "attend" AA meetings, but are any of us "members? I do not think of myself as a "member". I use the AA program, I am not a member. Do any of us have a membership card?
I can not fill in for your HP, but I can tell you right now I would have no problem discounting the moral authority of the insurance company to ask this question and make it my prime objective to answer their question honestly. "No, I am not a "member" of AA"
Tom

Fyne Spirit · MIP Old Timer

Was there another question relating to mental illness or something along those lines? That's the type of question my proposal contained and I stated in that that I was a recovered alcoholic. Still got the cover with no penalty.

Have you told ylour doctor you are gpoing to AA? If so, it's in your medical records.

Having now made a claim on a life policy I can tell you that the first thing the insurers do is check your full medical records and compare those with the disclosures made in your proposal/application. If they find any evidence of deception, they will not pay out. In my case there was a minor unrelated issue which almost caused that very problem. A medical episode that was resolved was disclosed in an earlier policy proposal, but the policy was changed at the insurers instigation and the same disclosure was not made in the subsequent proposal. We were only paid out because our broker intervened and pointed out that there was no intent to deceive, that the insurer had been made aware of all the issues in the first proposal. They paid out.

Guys, you can rationalise this all you like but the fact is the insurer is entitled to ask any questions it likes in order to assess the risk you are asking it to take. You have the right to refuse to answer or find another company but if you engage in deception (dishonesty) they may refuse to pay out.

We need to maintain personal anonimity at the level of press, radio, tv and films. It is not a breach of this tradition to disclose our AA membership at any other level.

If there is another question re mental illness or alcoholism, it occurs to me that AA membership may be regarded as a positive factor. All evidence points to membership in AA providing the best chance of long term recovery for the real alcoholic. The underwriters will know this better than anyone.

God bless,
MikeH.

turninggrey · MIP Old Timer

Sober,
Can you give me the exact wording of the question? I just do not know how the question as proposed could stand the legal test! I am going bald, but I am not a "member" of the "Hair Club". Mike, the insurance companies are regulated, and in my experience, the first thing they say right off the bat is "no" to everything. "Are you a member of AA?" is much different than "Have you ever been arrested for an alcohol related incident". Sober, I would check with my lawyer before I answered "Yes" to your question. I think Mike has a point about your medical records.
Tom

leeu · MIP Old Timer

I'm with Nancy Reagan on this one "Just say no!"

Attending AA is not the basis for a diagnosis, and no insurance company is going to offer coveage for your voluntary contributions LOL.

I agree with TG's "If I was a Jew in Nazi Germany, and I was asked if I was a Jew, I would say "No". I think that pretty much sums it up.

There can not possibly be any legal basis that would support the asking of that question. Nice try, but it don't fly.

AlcoHater · Senior Member

"Oh! I thought you asked if I was in AAA! I thought it was a typo!"