Ron
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Post by Ron on Oct 30, 2014 11:52:23 GMT
e-cigaretteuk.org.uk/lower-health-insurance-rates/Fight them with their own rhetoric A good number of vapers will be hesitant when making insurance applications thanks to the likelihood of there being surcharges. To see if a consumer should pay the extra charges, they are asked two questions by the insurer. The first one is if they use any tobacco products and the second one is if they are using any smoking cessation products. Vapers need to give both these questions some thought before answering. It goes without saying that e-cigs do not contain any tobacco so it is easy to give an emphatic “no” as the answer to the first question. However, when it comes to the second question, things can be a bit tricky. According to the FDA, e-cigs are not in the list of smoking cessation products. However, a good number of people use them for smoking cessation. This means that everybody who has completely quit smoking but is still using e-cigs can comfortably give “no” as the answer to both questions. After all, there is no way the insurer will know that you use e-cigs unless you volunteer the information. e-cigaretteuk.org.uk/pharma-battle-against-e-cigarettes/
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mowjo
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Post by mowjo on Oct 30, 2014 13:02:35 GMT
I think I'd check with the insurer! if there's a way of getting out of a pay-out they will use it, tobacco contains nicotine as far as I'm aware, so that could make it a tobacco product in their eyes, the problem is there's no clear clarification on Vaping yet even some so called experts still refere to it as smoking, so personally I don't think I would answer no to either question without checking with the insurer first, if you said no to either and didn't tell them I could see a long legal battle if something happened,,,
Frank,,,,
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sleedale
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Post by sleedale on Oct 30, 2014 13:25:45 GMT
I'm with Ron on this
I don't smoke tobacco.......burning tobacco and inhaling the smoke is the problem for health not nicotine. If insurance companies regard nicotine as a problem, well they'd best ask if I eat potatoes and other foods with nicotine in them.....and don't get me started on caffeine! Out of interest, do they ask if you consume alcohol and in what quantities? Cos in the interests of fairness, they should.
Until they completely prove that vaping is bad for your health to the same level as smoking tobacco, then as far as I'm concerned it's a no to both questions. They only ask the second one to gauge if you are likely to go back to tobacco smoking I think.
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mart166
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Post by mart166 on Oct 30, 2014 13:58:08 GMT
I have long running private health through company, never bothered to inform them I do not smoke anymore, premiums stayed same for years, would only give them oppertunity to turn down a claim, they happy i'm happy. BUT told my GP in 2009 i'd given up, each 6 monthly checkup get asked same question, "your still smoking 20 a day ?" always same awnser I gave up may 2009, ok we'll update records, well done, and do they, of course not, so I dont trust anyone with information about smoker, ex smoker or vapor.
MP
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lfcpops
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Post by lfcpops on Oct 30, 2014 14:19:26 GMT
Hi guys
Having worked in insurance for many years, I can guarantee you that any claim you try to make in the future based on not declaring something will result in a claim being turned down. While I agree with you, that by the letter of the policy and the FDA your reading is correct, in practice you would end up having your claim turned down, and having to go through a complaints and ombudsman process which can be very time consuming and convoluted (which it will be, if the insurer has anything to do with it, as with many of them it is unwritten company policy), at the end of which you MIGHT have your claim accepted on appeal...
The question you need to ask yourself is that at the point of claiming on health insurance, do you really need a second fight on your hands, just when you should be pouring all your energy into fighting a disease or illness?
Sorry to be negative, but I've seen the kind of suffering that insurance companies can inflict, given the slightest opportunity or opening...
Just my two penneth...
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mart166
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Post by mart166 on Oct 30, 2014 14:25:34 GMT
Hi guys Having worked in insurance for many years, I can guarantee you that any claim you try to make in the future based on not declaring something will result in a claim being turned down. While I agree with you, that by the letter of the policy and the FDA your reading is correct, in practice you would end up having your claim turned down, and having to go through a complaints and ombudsman process which can be very time consuming and convoluted (which it will be, if the insurer has anything to do with it, as with many of them it is unwritten company policy), at the end of which you MIGHT have your claim accepted on appeal... The question you need to ask yourself is that at the point of claiming on health insurance, do you really need a second fight on your hands, just when you should be pouring all your energy into fighting a disease or illness? Sorry to be negative, but I've seen the kind of suffering that insurance companies can inflict, given the slightest opportunity or opening... Just my two penneth... I think you just eloquantly backed up what I was trying to say. Thanks MP
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mart166
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Post by mart166 on Oct 30, 2014 14:33:01 GMT
I've had experiance of not health related but similar claim, it involved a major insurer, a major glossy magazine and me as the one out of pocket, they squirmed fought me then themselves not to pay, end result after long time I got paid, insurance company not happy and magazine bankrupt (not down to my claim). Only details I can give because despite winning I can say no more.
MP
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GunJack
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Post by GunJack on Oct 31, 2014 10:25:25 GMT
my GP has changed my status, typed it as I sat next to him When I gave him the exact date, it led to a brief e-cig discussion, of which he's supportive.... then I whipped out my Vamo and had to explain it wasn't a sonic screwdriver
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mowjo
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Post by mowjo on Oct 31, 2014 11:53:45 GMT
Ifc! that is exactly what I was trying to get over, and as you worked in the industry who better to know, insurance company's seem to be a law unto themselves, one company may see Vaping as non smoking another will see it as smoking because of the Nicotine in the juice, how ever you look at it Nicotine is proven to be addictive and in all tobacco related products, and could be why they ask are you using smoking cessation products, the FDA might not class Vaping as smoking cessation products, but anyone that has has any dealings with any insurance company will know if they can find a way out of paying out they will, I love the idea of Rons post but in reality until Vaping gets some form of classification, I'd play safe and check first,,
Mow,,,,
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