Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IT’S NOT EASY being a smoker these days. Pushed out of bars, hotel rooms, most parties and even some public places like playgrounds, smokers pay the social price for being addicted to a drug that will kill half of its users.
Now it turns out that up to two in every five smokers are lying on their life insurance forms, according to a study by the AA.
According to data from the Health Service Executive (HSE), the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking in 2015 was 19.1%, down from 21.5% in 2013.
Yet the average smoker population among applicants for AA life insurance is only 12% – down from 15.3% in 2013.
The average smoker population among life insurance applicants is therefore seven percentage points lower than in the general population.
Source: Shutterstock
Misrepresentation
The AA believe the widening discrepancy is down to 'misrepresentation' from smokers about their habit, as spokesman Conor Faughnan explains:
The real number of people who misrepresent their smoking habits on their life insurance policy is probably lower than the figure illustrated.
"Smoking rates are highest among young adults and people in lower socioeconomic groups - parties who are unlikely to have or need life insurance at that stage in their life.
"This could skew the figures slightly.
But given the sizeable gap between actual smokers and those who admit they smoke in their policies it is hard to believe that there is not some misrepresentation going on.
The AA warns that life insurance policies cost an average of 92% extra for smokers so as to offset additional healthcare and other related costs - and non-smokers end up paying over the odds when misrepresentation occurs from 'social' smokers.
AA Life Insurance currently classify electronic cigarette users as non-smokers as long as they have not smoked tobacco in the previous 12 months.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Interesting, will America listen ?
They won’t bloody stop listening!
Why didn’t they lead the way against gm foods grown here even though majority of Europeans are against it. It got through cause an abstention automatically means a yes, WHY?
There should be more media coverage of EU decisions like this, as a member we implement the changes to n these decisions can often be far bigger than our own at home.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/gm-corn-gets-controversial-eu-ahead-202442678.html#6gTHmUF
What study determined that the ‘majority’ of Europeans are against it? I’m genuinely curious.
It has been shown time and time again that Europeans are against it, as are Irish people. Keep it out I say.
How has it been shown? You have to substantiate such claims.
I have no real opinion on the matter, myself.
Nevermind EU White fang it’s being rejected by people world wide China just rejected a shipment of GM corn other country’s are against GM
Take an hour or two to read up on this subject & Monsanto you will be shocked at the rejection it’s receiving and rightly so the stuffs not good for ye
I have heard bad things about Mosanto alright, Foxy. I’ve been meaning to do more research into GM foods though, before I form an opinion.
I just don’t think the majority out there oppose it. I’d say the most are like me, and know little about it. Which is worrying.
I think you found the problem and solution
It’s up to the people to educate themselves and others about subjects like this nobody else is going to
True, the media doesn’t seem too interested in the subject, so I guess it’s up to each individual to source information.
Here some mate. Just a bit to get started. If you do start to look further you might notice a lot of surveys that suggest there is less concern about gms but the have the pattern of surveys that have loaded questions and with leading results, no flat out questions asked. keep an eye for that buddy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/europeans-wary-of-gmo-foods-2137817.html
Thanks Joe, that’s exactly what I was looking for!
The EU is a million times worse than the US
At least in the US they all speak the same language
Wrong Sean, every day you manage to outdo yourself. Haha.
What kind of clown are you?
Sean. You really are a complete hatstand.
The Internet is a wild animal, one minute they think they’ve got it tamed, Napster, Limewire etc
Good cop bad cop same agenda.
Nail on the head
The US probably has Hollandes phone bugged already thinking he’s a terrorist. Most of us are in their eyes.
Not a specy one
Interesting contrast between this and other recent stories on the same subject.
Derek Keating & Sean Kelly should really take note.
have your say