Alcohol

Alcohol Impairment Printable Questionnaire

Alcohol Impairment Underwriting Information

Consumption of alcohol is common in American society. For the majority of drinkers of alcoholic beverages, there is little risk to health or longevity. However, excess alcohol intake has a substantial impact on population mortality. In applicants with a history of risky alcohol habits, an increased premium (or possibly rejection, depending on severity) is necessary on their life insurance policy. The underwriter will use medical records (especially those related to treatment for substance abuse and psychiatric illness), social profile, motor vehicle reports, laboratory results, and physical findings in order to assess the risk associated with excess alcohol consumption.

Complications of alcohol excess significant to life underwriting:

Cardic: Atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, hypertension

Nervous system: Blackouts, seizures, delirium tremens, peripheral neuropathy, tremors, brain damage, psychosis, balance and gait impairments

Gastrointestinal: Fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding (sometimes massive) due to gastritis, varices and esophagitis, cancer, diarrhea

Bone marrow: Abnormal bloodcounts including anemia

Psychiatric and social: Depression, anxiety, suicide, violent behavior, marital/occupational/familial problems, abuse of other drugs as well as alcohol

Miscellaneous: Aspiration pneumonia, accidents, and trauma

Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factor influencing it's development and manisfestations. The disease can be progressive and fatal. it is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despitre adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be coninuous or periodic.

Binge drinking is highly risky for accidental mortality. It is defined as heavy drinking to the point of intoxication on a periodic basis

Risky drinking (per the NIAAA - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) is:

For men, greater than 14 drinks per week or greater than 4 per occasion
For women, greater than 7 drinks per week or greater than 3 per occasion

Note: One drink =12g of pure alcohol = 12oz of beer = 5oz of wine = 1.5oz (a jigger) of hard liquor.

Besides the risks associated with excess alcohol intake, the underwriter also consider favorable historical items such as: active participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, vountary initiation of treatmetn, single period of treatment or hospitalization, maintenance of stable family life, sustained employment, financial solvency, and good health without reports of violence or arrests. If the individual is able to successsfully stop drinking alcohol without relapse, after seven to ten years, the mortality rate approaches that of the general population.

Underwriting guidelines for alcohol excess are:
Risky excess without evidence of other social, legal, or health problems and no history of alcohol treatment	Table C
Others with evidence of financial, social, or health (physical or psychiatric) problems with multiple DUI/DWIs overt alcoholism has undergone treatment with abuse of other drugs	Minimum postponement of 2 years. Ratings then will range from standard to Table F, depending on time since abstinence/sobriety began.

Underwriting guidelines for alcohol excess are:

Risky excess without evidence of other social, legal, or health problems and no history of alcohol treatment

Table C

Others

with evidence of financial, social, or health (physical or psychiatric) problems
with multiple DUI/DWIs
overt alcoholism
has undergone treatment
with abuse of other drugs

Minimum postponement of 2 years. Ratings then will range from standard to Table F, depending on time since abstinence/sobriety began.

Adjustments (up or down) may be made to the above ratings, depeding on: severity of the excess, serverity of associated complications, evidence of alcohol dependence and/or withdrawal, legal problems related to alcohol (such as DUI/DWIs), abuse of other drugs, number of relapses, and current participation in a group such as Alcoholics Anonymous.