term life insurance for ex and current smokers expense

insurance smoker

A life insurance policy that is whole will last for your all of your life. At the same time, the real-life rates will usually be higher than those for a term life insurance policy, particularly for smokers. However, the premium will remain the same as long as the policy remains in effect.

Finding life insurance as a smoker can be challenging, and you may have fewer affordable options than your non-smoking counterparts. The same may hold if you smoke marijuana, vape, or have recently stopped smoking.

The good news is that if you stop smoking to improve your health, you may also improve your life insurance options. Both policy options and premium costs may improve over time.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers expense

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.

Yes, smokers can get life insurance. However, you'll have to pay more for insurance than non-smokers. Smoking tobacco is a known health risk that can impact the length of your life. Life expectancy is a key cost factor for insurance companies to determine their rates.

Prepare yourself for higher life insurance rates if you're smoking. The rates for smoking are likely to double or triple for non-smokers. The rate of increase will differ based on gender, age, and the amount of coverage, but here are some examples of typical increase in quotes for a 20-year term life insurance policy of $500,000.

life insurance for smokers under 40

If you're classified as a smoker, you decrease your chance of obtaining the lowest premium rate or a greater death benefit. But there are some life insurance options that are for smokers. Make sure you know that the average price on life insurance for smokers is higher than that of non-smokers for similar protection.

What is the outcome if you're not forthcoming regarding tobacco or smoking use when applying for insurance? If you die during the contestability time (the year or two following your death) and your insurer discovers you're a smoker or use tobacco products. Your policy could be invalid and your beneficiaries might not receive the death benefits.

Yes, you can purchase life insurance even if you smoke cigarettes, chew tobacco, or vape. If you're concerned that there aren't life insurance options available at your disposal, you shouldn't be discouraged. Because of this life insurance can be more costly, but there are options. If you decide to stop, there are many options, and you could see lower premiums in the future.

life insurance for smokers under 40
term life insurance for ex and current smokers fda

term life insurance for ex and current smokers fda

The most common verification method is a medical exam that typically involves taking urine and blood samples. These tests will detect the presence of cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine. It can also be found in hair and saliva samples. However, testing for cotinine isn't completely foolproof. Smokers could get past if they've not smoking for a one or two days.

Not all life insurance policies require a medical exam. Some policy types, such as guaranteed issue life insurance, require no exam and have no health questions. Rates are based on your age, gender, and the coverage amount.

Many factors impact your eligibility for life insurance and your policy's cost, including tobacco use. When you apply for life insurance, you will be asked to disclose whether you smoke and, if so, what type of tobacco products you use. Because the mortality rate for smokers is roughly three times higher than non-smokers, you can expect to pay a much higher life insurance premium if you use tobacco. Here's what you need to know about getting life insurance if you currently use tobacco or have a smoking history.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers medical

The chance for life insurance companies that you'll be smoking cigarettes late in your life is minimal. Around 90% of smokers begin smoking before the age of 18 According to the Centers for Disease Control.

Around 43% of life insurance applicants did not declare their smoking habits as per ExamOne, which conducts medical examinations on behalf of life insurance firms. It's based on the number of applicants who tested positive for cotinine analysis; however, they claimed that they did not smoke. The younger applicants are more likely to conceal the use of tobacco.

To be taken as a non-smoker life insurance, companies generally require you to non-smoker for at least an entire year. Even if you stopped smoking a few months ago, and you don't believe that the insurance company will identify anything about your body it is important to not be a liar about your smoking habits, or the date you stop.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers in us
term life insurance for ex and current smokers in us

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.

If you've passed that time threshold, you can ask for the rate to be reconsidered. That means you'll take a new life insurance medical exam and re-evaluate your health. If you've also developed new medical conditions in the interim, those will factor into the new rate. So getting a re-rating isn't necessarily a slam dunk after you've quit smoking.

Because the life insurer has no health information from you, these types of policies are among the most expensive you can buy. They also tend to offer only low coverage amounts, such as $5,000 to $25,000. You can still be better off buying a traditional life insurance policy, resigning to taking the medical exam, and paying smokers' rates.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers under 35

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.

What effect does smoking have on the cost of life insurance? Smokers - even occasionally- are charged more because smoking tobacco and cigarettes greatly increase the likelihood of dying earlier than those who don't .

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.

term life insurance for ex and current smokers under 35

Frequently Asked Questions


The average cost of life insurance for a smoker is $87.71 per month — that's four times more expensive than a healthy individual's average life insurance premium, which is $24.82 per month. Several factors determine your rate.


'Ex-smoking' refers to someone who has smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime but has not smoked in the last 28 days. The international convention is to treat someone as an ex-smoker once they have been smoke-free for one month (at least 28 days).