smoking

Many insurers currently look at substance use through a binary 'yes/no' lens
 

Many smokers of five-a-day or fewer cigarettes, or those who have cut down while trying to stop, believe the occasional cigarette causes them little or no harm

A cloud of uncertainty? In ReFlections, RGA's Hilary Henly, investigates growing use of e-cigarettes and the practice of vaping among the young and exposes adverse health effects, unknown risk, and the increased potential for long-term dependence.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. just announced an investigation of a multistate outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI). By November there were over 1,800 confirmed and probable cases and 37 deaths.1 This opens the safety of Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to scrutiny once more.

Life insurers have long recognized the value of oral fluids for risk assessment through screening for HIV-1 and tobacco or drug use, but oral health itself is not routinely evaluated as part of the underwriting process.

Rates of diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disorders, certain cancers and other non-communicable diseases are increasing globally, and a growing body of evidence links lifestyle behaviors, such as physical inactivity, poor nutrition and smoking, to the increase.

The call often comes in like this one: “My client does something called vaping.  It’s not like smoking cigarettes—it’s much less toxic.   He doesn’t do it that often.  He can get a non-tobacco policy, right?”  So, what is vaping?   How toxic is it if at all?  And can you get a non-tobacco policy?

Smoking cessation has been a large contributor to improving mortality over the past few decades and tobacco use, amongst adults and teens, is at an all-time low. However, the trend of vaping and e-cigarettes has exploded. What are the implications for insurers?

Despite its dwindling popularity in many countries, smoking remains the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death in the world.

Fewer Americans are getting cancer, and more of those who do are surviving the disease, according to a new study.