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Why would an insurance company need medical information for underwriting an auto policy?

My boyfriend endured a 20-minute phone survey from his auto insurance company which they claimed was for underwriting purposes, but they asked him questions that seemingly have nothing to do with his eligibility for auto insurance and that is definitely none of their fucking business, such as whether he's a smoker or if he's ever had suicidal thoughts. Are they in the right to do this?

I'm asking because I have an auto policy with the same insurance company, and I suspect the number that's called me several times this week is my insurance company, possibly for the same reason. Is it in my interest to stop screening my calls, or can I continue to ignore them?

keshmeshi asked in Insurance 7 months ago | Report

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4 Answers

  • Rex_racer_small
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    As far as screening your calls, that might be a little paranoid - maybe they're calling to offer you a referral discount! If they're calling to gather bio info, you can always 'drive into a tunnel' and hang up.

    either they're using it as leverage against future claims that might possibly be related to health/smoking,
    OR they are gathering marketing info in order to sell him other (life) insurance.
    Maybe both.

    Just lie and tell them what they want to hear.

    the former makes sense in a underwriting sense, because -for example-- if he's been diagnosed as suicidal and next month drives his car off the aurora bridge and into an apartment, they might have a way to keep from being legally responsible to fully pay claims to the building he lands on. In any case, read the policy fine print carefully -- if there's reference to accidents (or fire damage)not being covered by this policy if he was smoking at the time, you've got your answer.

    RacerX answered in Insurance 7 months ago | Report
    3 comments by keshmeshi, O my captain, and keshmeshi…
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  • Ozomahtli_small
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    Did you ask them why they are asking you these questions? If it's for a premium discount, I can't think of a reason they wouldn't be up front about it. If it's not for a premium discount, then decline to answer the question.

    Mahtli69 answered in Insurance 7 months ago | Report
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  • Yosemite_ariel_small
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    Healthy people are, on average (and, this is what we're talking about with auto insurance - actuarial tables), better drivers. Also, if your boyfriend is epileptic, the insurance company needs to know that (so they can deny him coverage).

    Same reason they can get away with pulling your credit score and charging you according to how good or bad your credit is - they've proven that there is a correlation and they have massive amounts of data to back it up.

    Malcolmxy answered in Insurance about 1 month ago | Report
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  • Bauhaus_small
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    Don't know. Are rates higher for people with heart conditions, epilepsy, narcolepsy, etc?

    Bauhaus answered in Insurance 7 months ago | Report
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