| Smokers usually have less life span than | | | | usually taken during a medical examination of |
| non-smokers and are prone to various diseases | | | | applicant. The blood test checks for cotinine level |
| like heart diseases, respiratory diseases, lung | | | | in blood sample while detecting nicotine. Although, |
| cancer, COPD etc. Due to the severe health risks | | | | nicotine does not remain in body for longer time, |
| associated with smoking, the health and life | | | | its metabolic by-products can remain in blood for |
| insurance companies charge higher premiums | | | | longer periods. These by-products can be |
| from smokers than non-smokers. The insurance | | | | detected up to 3 weeks after the last instance of |
| companies perform various types of tests to | | | | smoking. |
| effectively detect nicotine use among applicants. | | | | Saliva Test |
| Nicotine use can be effectively detected through | | | | Saliva test to detect nicotine and cotinine is an |
| urine, blood, saliva, and hair test. | | | | inexpensive, non-invasive method of detection. |
| Insurance Companies Rely On: | | | | The saliva tests can effectively detect nicotine |
| Insurance companies conduct urine, blood, saliva, | | | | and cotinine up to 7 to 10 days after use. It is |
| and hair test to detect nicotine use as a part of | | | | also difficult to adulterate the results of saliva test |
| medical screening process to finalize the premium | | | | as the sample is directly collected by taking a |
| to be charged. | | | | swab from person's mouth. Saliva test kits for |
| Urine Test | | | | nicotine allow for easy testing of nicotine in the |
| Urine test detects the concentration level of | | | | comforts of home as they are portable, easy to |
| cotinine in urine. Cotinine is a metabolic by-product | | | | use, and provide accurate results. |
| of nicotine after being processed in body. The | | | | Hair Test |
| urine test can effectively detect the use of | | | | Hair test is an effective and accurate method to |
| cotinine for 4 days after use. Although cotinine | | | | detect nicotine use. It is accurate than other |
| remains in urine for short period of time, its | | | | forms of tests, as testing is done using advanced |
| concentration level is higher than in blood or saliva. | | | | laboratory techniques. It provides a larger window |
| The urine test is commonly employed to detect | | | | of detection for nicotine for as long as 10 or |
| nicotine as it is a regular part of physical | | | | more days from actual use. As hair testing is |
| examination for receiving insurance. Cotinine is | | | | expensive than urine, blood, or saliva testing for |
| used as a biomarker during urine testing for | | | | nicotine, the insurance companies find it less |
| nicotine as its half life is greater than other | | | | feasible to perform this testing on every applicant. |
| metabolites. The urine test can effectively detect | | | | Even a small sample of hair can reveal history of |
| cotinine in urine at cut-off concentration of 200 ng | | | | nicotine use for several days. |
| ml. Also, a person can check for nicotine use at | | | | Furnishing wrong information to insurance |
| home using nicotine test kits that provide | | | | companies can result in denial of coverage or |
| accurate and reliable results. | | | | even prosecution for providing false information if |
| Blood Test | | | | person is under coverage. Quitting smoking is a |
| The insurance companies effectively use blood | | | | better option as it helps build a healthy lifestyle |
| test to determine whether the person is a | | | | and qualify to receive cheaper premiums from |
| smoker or non-smoker, as a blood sample is | | | | insurance companies. |