#646698 - 02/09/08 11:43 AM
life insurance urine test
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zadadog
Stranger
Registered: 11/08/06
Posts: 8
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I don't know if this is the right place to post this or not. My apologies if it's not. I was recently laid off from my job and am applying for life insurance since I'm no longer covered. (My severance pay covers health insurance through the year.)
As part of getting life insurance, I gave them permission to contact my doctors for medical records (no problem there at all). I think what they're primarily looking for is HIV/AIDs since the permission form had something to that effect in big letters. Definitely no worries there. I also have to undergo a physical exam, which, from what I understand, will consist of an EMT coming to my house on Monday afternoon to record my height, weight, B/P, and collecting a urine sample.
I have prescriptions from my local doctors for everything except diazepam (international purchase) and Tramadol (Click here for TramadolX180tabs for only 99.95 dollars), for which I do have a bottle with a prescription on it, but it's not from my state.
What is a urine test for a life insurance exam likely to test for? Is it likely to test for benzos (i.e., diazepam in my case) or Tramadol (Click here for TramadolX180tabs for only 99.95 dollars)? If a test is looking for diazepam and Tramadol (Click here for TramadolX180tabs for only 99.95 dollars), how many days (or weeks) do I need to avoid taking them in order for them to be undetectable?
Thank you,
Zadadog
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#646751 - 02/09/08 01:04 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: zadadog]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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Here is a list I use from time to time, hope it helps...
Alcohol (Beer, Booze, Hooch, Liquor, Wine), 1hour to perhaps 10 or 12 hours (Yes, alcohol IS a drug! Drinking more than "in moderation" can lead to alcohol (drug) abuse...and perhaps alcoholism. During 2002, more than 18,000 people in the U.S. were killed by too-boozed-up DRUNK drivers! DON'T BE ONE OF THEM THIS YEAR!) CLICK HERE for more information about alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
Amphetamines (Biphetamine, Black Beauties, Crosses, Dexedrine, Hearts), 1-2 days
Anabolic steroids (Stanzolol, Stanazolol, Nandrolene; Steroids, Roids, Juice), oral- up to 3 weeks; injected- up to 3-6 months and more
Barbituates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; Barbs), 2-3 days
Benzodiazepines (e.g., Ativan, Halcion, Librium, Rohypnol, Valium; Roofies, Tranks, Xanax), 2-3 days
Cocaine (Candy, Coke, Crack, Flake, Rocks, Snow, Whitecoat), (Candy, Coke, Crack, Flake, Rocks, Snow, Whitecoat), 1-2 days
Codeine (e.g., Fiorinal w/codeine, Robitussin A-C, Empirin w/codeine, Tylenol w/codeine, 1-2 days
GHB (G, Grievous Bodily Harm, Goob, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X), 1-2 days
Heroin (Horse, Smack), 1-2 days
Inhalents, just a few hours
Ketamine (K, Kit Kat, Special K, Vitamin K), 2-4 days
LSD (Acid, Blotter, Microdot, Yellow sunshine), a few hours or up to 5 days
Marijuana (Bud, Blunt, Grass, Herb, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Smoke, Weed), 2-5 days (the daily, heavy user can sometimes be detected up to 30+ days)
MDMA (Ecstasy), 1-5 days
Methadone, 1-7 days
Methamphetamines (Crank, Crystal, Desoxyn, Glass, Ice, Speed), 2-4 days
Methaqualone (Ludes, Quaaludes), 10-15 days
Nicotine (Cigarettes, Cigars, Habitrol patch, Nicorette gum, Nicotrol spray, Prostep patch; Smokeless tobacco, Snuff, Spit tobacco), 1-2 days
Opiates (i.e., Opium: China, Dreams, Laudanum, Paregoric; Dover's Powder), 1-2 days
Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percolone, Roxicodone), 1-2 days
PCP (Angel Dust, Boat, Hog, Love Boat), 1-8 days
For chronic drug users, drugs (other than alcohol) can be retained in the system much longer by the chronic-user after their last use. For instance, marijuana and PCP can be detected for up to 60-90 days after lengthy, heavy-use periods of use.
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#646754 - 02/09/08 01:06 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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I have no idea where Tramadol (Click here for TramadolX180tabs for only 99.95 dollars) would fall, I imagine it would stay in your system 1-3 days just like Tylenol or other opiates. Good luck!!!
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Happy new year!!!
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#646761 - 02/09/08 01:11 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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Also with regrads to life insurance, you can avoid having any kind of medical exam if you keep the policy value below a certain dollar amount.
Also to save money, instead of getting a $100,000 whole life policy(for example), you could get a $50,000 whole life policy and then add a $50,000 term rider and still provide the same coverage for a fraction of the cost.
let me know if you have any other questions, I used to be a life insurance agent.
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Happy new year!!!
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#646766 - 02/09/08 01:22 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: zadadog]
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funbag
Veteran
Registered: 05/30/06
Posts: 674
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Zadadog,
Tell me what company you are applying with and I will tell you what they test for.
Most companies just test for Cocaine, Heroin and Nicotine. Doing a full drug screen is quite expensive for these companies and since most go after your medical records they will generally feel comfortable seeing what you tell your doctor.
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#646782 - 02/09/08 01:38 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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zadadog
Stranger
Registered: 11/08/06
Posts: 8
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Thanks for the info - very helpful. I think I should be fine.
I'm not "shopping around" for life insurance and am going with the agent I use for my car and house, primarily because I have MS, which is generally a death knell for medical or health insurance of any kind. This company is willing to insure me. I don't know if the exam is standard no matter what, or if it was triggered by my disclosure of MS. Doesn't really matter. I just can't even remember the last time I had to pee in a cup!
Thank you again-
Zadadog
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#646783 - 02/09/08 01:43 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: funbag]
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zadadog
Stranger
Registered: 11/08/06
Posts: 8
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Zadadog,
Tell me what company you are applying with and I will tell you what they test for.
I'm applying for life insurance with Farmer's. Thanks in advance for anything you can tell me about them.
ZD
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#646845 - 02/09/08 03:24 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: funbag]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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Zadadog,
Tell me what company you are applying with and I will tell you what they test for.
Most companies just test for Cocaine, Heroin and Nicotine. Doing a full drug screen is quite expensive for these companies and since most go after your medical records they will generally feel comfortable seeing what you tell your doctor.
That is very correct in most cases. Given his medical condition they might test a little more stringently but, I highly doubt it.
The company I worked for only did a mouth swab testing for cocaine, herion, and nicotine when the policy was above $50,000 and below $99,999. Anything above that would require full physical exam including blood work and urine sample.
They did not require any testing at all if the policy was below $50,000 and provided you were 59 1/2 or younger.
_________________________
Happy new year!!!
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#646878 - 02/09/08 04:31 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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zadadog
Stranger
Registered: 11/08/06
Posts: 8
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The company I worked for only did a mouth swab testing for cocaine, herion, and nicotine when the policy was above $50,000 and below $99,999. Anything above that would require full physical exam including blood work and urine sample.
When doing blood work and urine sample, what was your company looking for?
I just did one of those 12-drug home urine tests (the kind you can pick up at CVS) and it did not detect the Tramadol (Click here for TramadolX180tabs for only 99.95 dollars). It did detect the tricyclic antidepressent I'm on (Elavil/amitriptyline - small daily dose per my neuro, migraine prevention) and it did detect the Valium/diazepam. So either I stay off the diazepam (small dose some nights for insomnia - very common in MS-ers) and hope it's no longer detectable by Monday afternoon OR hope they aren't looking for that in the urine test. Or hope that since the medical records from my neurologist do note in several places that he's prescribed Ativan/lorazepam for me in the past that they'll consider it legit.
I'm still interested in Funbag's information if it's specific to Farmer's.
Thanks again for the information!
Zadadog (a female, by the way)
p.s. I don't know if this had anything to do with this limited "physical exam" by an EMT (as opposed to a complete physical by an M.D.) but I've been using this same Farmer's agent for almost 16 years, and when I made my initial call to him about the life insurance, I immediately disclosed the MS.
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#646958 - 02/09/08 07:48 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: zadadog]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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The company I worked for only did a mouth swab testing for cocaine, herion, and nicotine when the policy was above $50,000 and below $99,999. Anything above that would require full physical exam including blood work and urine sample.
When doing blood work and urine sample, what was your company looking for? I just did one of those 12-drug home urine tests (the kind you can pick up at CVS) and it did not detect the Tramadol (Click here for TramadolX180tabs for only 99.95 dollars). It did detect the tricyclic antidepressent I'm on (Elavil/amitriptyline - small daily dose per my neuro, migraine prevention) and it did detect the Valium/diazepam. So either I stay off the diazepam (small dose some nights for insomnia - very common in MS-ers) and hope it's no longer detectable by Monday afternoon OR hope they aren't looking for that in the urine test. Or hope that since the medical records from my neurologist do note in several places that he's prescribed Ativan/lorazepam for me in the past that they'll consider it legit. I'm still interested in Funbag's information if it's specific to Farmer's. Thanks again for the information! Zadadog (a female, by the way) p.s. I don't know if this had anything to do with this limited "physical exam" by an EMT (as opposed to a complete physical by an M.D.) but I've been using this same Farmer's agent for almost 16 years, and when I made my initial call to him about the life insurance, I immediately disclosed the MS.
To be honest, I am not 100% sure. Those types of policies, the agent would pretty much just be doing the paper work. The policies of $100,000+ would be handled directly through the underwritter. They set up the medical exams and handled pretty much every aspect of the case except for the filling out of the application and policy delivery once approved. The agent does the mouth swabbing himself, so I am very experienced in that regard.
We, myself and other agents, just assumed that they would be doing further drug testing and checking to make sure the potential client was not hiding any medical condition and also to make sure there was not a serious medical condition present that the client was unaware of.
I still have my old field manual, I will try and dig it out to see if I can give you some better information.
Also, if your doctor has prescribed the meds you shouldn't have anything to worry about. In some cases, you might get rated as a higher risk, due to your medical condition, and have to pay a higher premium.
I am sorry if this is not making any sense, I am very tired. I will read over this again in the morning to make sure I didn't give you any misinformation.
_________________________
Happy new year!!!
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#647500 - 02/11/08 03:15 AM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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Lynx4
Veteran
Registered: 08/08/07
Posts: 588
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My life insurance policy and my husband's life insurance policy is way above $100,000. We had to give urine samples, while the nurse was at our house, along with blood samples. We were also weighed, asked a million questions and had to give permission for them to get our records from our doctors.
At the time I was taking Ultram and it did not show up. I smoke, so of course the nicotine showed up, but we asked for a smoker's policy for me anyway, so no surprise there.
In our case, they checked for everything, and we were sent the results in the mail. We laughed at all the stuff they were looking for (the list was a mile long) but I assume it's because of the amount of life insurance we applied for (we have 4 children and want to make sure everyone is taken care of if one of us dies).
I'm sure it depends on how much insurance you're asking for, but benzos are on all the standard tests, so I'm sure valium would show up. And like I said, the Ultram didn't show up and they tested us very thoroughly.
Also, I know for a fact that Ultram and Soma/carisoprodol don't show up on the tests that pain management clinics perform. They obviously don't yet test for those.
Good Luck. If you have any benzos in your system, just show the nurse your bottle and move on. The question the nurse asked me was if I was taking any narcotics without a doctor's consent. So if you have pain from something that happened recently or needed a benzo for a short time, you aren't penalized for that.
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#647539 - 02/11/08 07:24 AM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Lynx4]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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Glad everything worked out for you. I wish I could have been more help to you.
Edited by Bryan72577 (02/11/08 07:27 AM)
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#647717 - 02/11/08 01:17 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Lynx4]
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zadadog
Stranger
Registered: 11/08/06
Posts: 8
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My life insurance policy and my husband's life insurance policy is way above $100,000. We had to give urine samples, while the nurse was at our house, along with blood samples. We were also weighed, asked a million questions and had to give permission for them to get our records from our doctors.
I'm sure it depends on how much insurance you're asking for, but benzos are on all the standard tests, so I'm sure valium would show up. And like I said, the Ultram didn't show up and they tested us very thoroughly.
Good Luck. If you have any benzos in your system, just show the nurse your bottle and move on. The question the nurse asked me was if I was taking any narcotics without a doctor's consent. So if you have pain from something that happened recently or needed a benzo for a short time, you aren't penalized for that.
That's the problem. I got the Valium from an international source and have no prescription and no bottle. The EMT just asked me what medications I was currently taking, didn't ask to see any bottles, even when I told him my neurologist has prescribed Vicodin in the past. My neurologist has also prescribed Ativan several times in the past, but of course I have no bottle for it either. I did another self-drug-test today before the EMT came, and it still came up positive for benzos, even though it's been at least 4 days. I can probably come up with a pretty plausible excuse if questioned. I have no dependents (well, no 2-legged ones) but my 70 year old mother lives with me, so I just need enough to pay off the mortgage, pay funeral expenses (egads, how depressing!) and maybe provide a little rainy day fund for her.
Thanks again for all the information!
ZD
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#648939 - 02/13/08 08:22 AM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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CareBearBuzz
Newbie
Registered: 09/07/06
Posts: 42
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I just had a urine drug screen for NYL and it only tested for cocaine and nicotine. They didn't even test for pot!
Here I had forgone taking my pain medication for 3 days because I didn't want it to show...
Sorry about your job and I hope things work out...
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#648946 - 02/13/08 08:31 AM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: CareBearBuzz]
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chemsynth
Threadhead
Registered: 11/07/05
Posts: 989
Loc: MA
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when i had my examination for life insurance a few years ago, they tested for cocaine, nicotine/metabolite, and betablockers and diuretics. the first two are extremely high risk for death, and the last involve drugs that are widely available and used to control blood pressure, another risk factor of early death and, hence early payouts before the insurance company has had a chance to turn a profit.
danged actuarial tables!!
hope this helps,
chemsynth
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#651457 - 02/16/08 09:27 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: ReefShark]
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joebend
Threadhead
Registered: 07/17/05
Posts: 897
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Also, on the nicotine - what if they do a blood test?
I imagine it would stay in the blood much longer - something to consider.
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#651464 - 02/16/08 10:10 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: ReefShark]
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funkybreakz
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 01/24/04
Posts: 1304
Loc: My Living Room
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is it true nicotine only staysin the system for two-three days? If you were to lie about your tobacoo use, how long would you have to go without using to pass these life insurance exams?
Do not lie about your tobacco use. you may pay a bit higher of a premium, but if you ever have any issues, and the docs/insurance companies can link it to tobacco use, they will refuse to pay! you will have paid your premiums all those years only to get the shaft... (this is coming from a smoker by the way)
with that being said, nicotine stays in your urine metabolites much longer than it stays in blood. i believe it is out of the blood stream within hours... metabolites, a few weeks if i am not mistaken...
if you ever quit, after 6 months of no smoking, you can renew the following year as a non smoker, and they will readjust your premium.
JMHO...
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cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile, nothin left to do but smile smile smile!
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#651482 - 02/16/08 11:45 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: funkybreakz]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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is it true nicotine only staysin the system for two-three days? If you were to lie about your tobacoo use, how long would you have to go without using to pass these life insurance exams? Do not lie about your tobacco use. you may pay a bit higher of a premium, but if you ever have any issues, and the docs/insurance companies can link it to tobacco use, they will refuse to pay! you will have paid your premiums all those years only to get the shaft... (this is coming from a smoker by the way) with that being said, nicotine stays in your urine metabolites much longer than it stays in blood. i believe it is out of the blood stream within hours... metabolites, a few weeks if i am not mistaken... if you ever quit, after 6 months of no smoking, you can renew the following year as a non smoker, and they will readjust your premium. JMHO...
If, say you were a smoker for twenty years, then quit for 5 years, got life insurance as a non smoker and die from lung cancer due to you being a smoker in the past, they canot deny benefits.
Thay also cannot change the rates(in a whole life or universal life, perment policies, which have guarenteed preimiums. And you start smoking again after the two year period of contestability, they cannot change your rates or cancel your policy for any reason other than non payment of premium.
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Happy new year!!!
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#651484 - 02/16/08 11:47 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: Bryan72577]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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Don't get me wrong, I am still not condoning not telling the truth about being a smoker, I just know for sure threre are ways around it if you are willing to take the risk to do so.
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#665026 - 03/09/08 05:27 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: ReefShark]
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erico99
Stranger
Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 7
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i just had exam for life insurance which included blood and urine.
My agent told me to be nicoctine free for at least 10 days and tell the nurse i never smoked
He also told me not to tell the the nurse about the vicodin i take .He assured me they only test for nicotine/hiv and coke
i guess i'll find out soon
I'll let ye know because i rekon i was nicotine free for just about 10 days and probably had 20mg hydrocodone in my system
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#665038 - 03/09/08 05:58 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: nitemoon]
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erico99
Stranger
Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 7
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i presume you believe i was severely misled by this agent.
Maybe i was but i don't see why, anyways i'll find out soon enough
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#665045 - 03/09/08 06:16 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: nitemoon]
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erico99
Stranger
Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 7
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i think it is me who should apologise now that i read your post again
but it is strange thats all these companys test for.I'm guessing that coke and weed are traditionally pretty widespread in their use(maybe)
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#665047 - 03/09/08 06:18 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: nitemoon]
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funkybreakz
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 01/24/04
Posts: 1304
Loc: My Living Room
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It just seems kind of silly to pick out those three things to test for. Like why coke?....why not pot?
because INS Companies consider those 3 things to be your biggest health risks. you got em... your premium skyrockets, IF they will even insure you.
_________________________
cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile, nothin left to do but smile smile smile!
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#665160 - 03/09/08 10:29 PM
Re: life insurance urine test
[Re: funkybreakz]
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Bryan72577
Threadhead
Registered: 10/26/07
Posts: 869
Loc: Birmingham, AL
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You are very right. MJ they don't care about at all. Coke and nicotine are the largest risk factors in the insurance business, outside of natural diseases(like Diabetes).
Coke and Diabetes or other health conditions, you will be very lucky if you can find anyone who will insure you. IF they will, you will pay dearly for it.
The nicotine test, if failed can cost you big bucks as well. Very large risk of early death and considered a high risk rate.
To give you an idea of how significant the difference is, I will give you an example of a customer I had who was 32 years, male(Higher rate than female alone right there) and was a smoker. His exact quote for $150,000 term life(the cheapest kind available) was $52.09 a month.
If I ran the exact same profile through as non-smoker, his rate dropped to $23 a month. More than 50% reduction in premium monthly
Edited by Bryan72577 (03/09/08 10:31 PM)
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