best term life insurance for smokers

how do life insurance companies know if you smoke

Yes, smokers can get life insurance. But , expect to pay more than a non-smoker. This is because smoking cigarettes is a well-known health risk that can impact the length of your life. Life expectancy is an important cost factor for insurance companies to determine their rates.

It is possible to refuse a life insurance plan for a smoker, when you also suffer from certain medical conditions, such as smoking-related illnesses. You may also be excluded from insurance when you falsely claim on your application to have smoking cigarettes.

Life expectancy is the base to determine the life insurance rate. Therefore, factors that affect your risk of "mortality," or life insurance expectation, are incorporated into quotes for life insurance.

Life insurance companies are keen to weed out smokers who aren't telling the truth. Life insurers lose an estimated $3.4 billion a year in premiums because of undisclosed tobacco use, according to Verisk, a data analytics provider.

A primary verification method is a life insurance medical exam, which typically includes taking blood and urine samples. These samples will reveal cotinine in your system, a byproduct of nicotine. Cotinine can also be detected in saliva and hair samples. But testing for cotinine isn't foolproof. Smokers may be able to slip through if they haven't smoked in a day or two.

If you've reached the threshold, you may ask whether the premium be reviewed. You'll undergo an additional life insurance medical examination and review your health. If you've had to deal with new medical conditions during the time they'll be incorporated into this new price. Therefore, getting a re-rating isn't a guarantee once you've stopped smoking.

how much is life insurance for a smoker

Yes, smokers can get life insurance. But , expect to pay more than than a non-smoker. This is because smoking cigarettes is a known health risk and can affect the length of your life. Life expectancy is a key cost factor for insurance companies when they decide on their rates.

If you're looking for motivation to stop sooner rather than later, many insurance companies include a waiting period before you can be classified as a non-smoker. This waiting period is usually at least a year. Once you cross that waiting period, your rates could drop and reach those of a "never-smoker" a few years later.

What happens if you're not honest about your smoking and tobacco use when you apply? Pass away during the contestability period (the year or two after your death), and your insurer finds out you were smoking or using tobacco products. The policy may be void, and your beneficiaries may not receive the death benefit.

how much is life insurance for a smoker
life insurance for cigar smokers

life insurance for cigar smokers

About 43% of life insurance applicants didn't disclose their tobacco habits, according to ExamOne, which performs medical exams for life insurance companies. That's based on the number of people who had cotinine in their testing analysis but said they didn't smoke. Younger applicants are the most likely to fail to disclose their tobacco use.

Although you may need to shop around, you should be able to find a suitable policy. To help people who smoke and are looking for life insurance policies, we reviewed policy prices, coverage options and limits, and other features before making our top choices. Please continue reading to discover which companies made our list of the best life insurance for smokers.

Whole-life policies also accrue cash value over time, allowing you to borrow against them or withdraw the accumulated value.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers for sale

It is possible to wonder if stopping smoking cigarettes is a good option as is applying for life insurance. Although this could result in higher rates, delaying purchasing life insurance is not a wise idea.

To be considered a non-smoker for life insurance purposes, providers usually want you to be smoke-free for a year. Even if you quit smoking months ago and don't think the insurance company will be able to detect anything in your system, you should never lie about your smoking habits or when you quit.

If you bought life insurance at a premium that was a smoker and you have resigned for at the very least a year, you might be eligible for an affordable cost. It is possible to ask the life insurance company how the time you have to stop smoking to qualify as an non-smoker.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers 6 months
term life insurance for ex and current smokers 6 months

If you have purchased life insurance at a premium that was a smoker and you have resigned for at least one year, you might be eligible for an affordable cost. It is possible to ask your life insurance company for how the time you have to stop smoking in order before they can consider you to be a non-smoker.

For example, you might be diagnosed with a new health issue when stopping smoking, which could result in higher health costs. And even more importantly, you might die without having a plan in place, putting your family members in a difficult position.

It is possible to wonder if stopping smoking cigarettes is a good idea and if you should apply for an insurance policy for life. Although this could result in higher rates, it's not a good idea to put off buying life insurance.

best term life insurance for smokers
term life insurance for ex and current smokers non-smoker

Certain life insurance policies require a medical check-up. Certain policies such as guarantee issue insurance do not require a medical exam and come with no health-related questions. The rates are based on your gender, age and the coverage amount.

Yes, you can purchase life insurance even when you smoke cigarettes, chew tobacco or vape. If you're worried that there's no life insurance options available, do not be discouraged. Because of this life insurance can be more costly, but there are still options. If you decide to quit, you'll have more options , and possibly lower rates over time.

Smoking cigarettes among adults is at a record low of just 14% in the latest report of the surgeon general. But , 16 million Americans suffer from smoking-related diseases. It's not necessary to suffer from the health effects of having to pay more expensive life insurance rates. Smoking cigarettes will generally lead to higher premiums when purchasing life insurance.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers non-smoker

Frequently Asked Questions


Results. The life expectancy of male, ex-smokers, and never-smokers at 40 years was 38.5, 40.8, and 42.4 years respectively. In women, the corresponding life expectancies were 42.4, 42.1, and 46.1 years.


After Quitting, Lungs Don't Fully Recover

The new study shows that although lung capacity declines at a much lower rate in ex-smokers (an extra 1.57 mL/year compared with nonsmokers) than current smokers (a different 9.42 mL/year), the pace doesn't normalize (reach zero) for at least 30 years.


Your lung function improves within two to three months after the last cigarette. During the first year after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease, and your lungs improve at cleaning themselves to reduce the risk of infection.