Life Insurance for Smokers and Tobacco Users

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of certain health conditions, including lung cancer and heart disease, is believed greater than for someone who doesn’t smoke. In addition, you’ll likely have to pay more for a life insurance policy. The good news is, you can still find life insurance that fits your budget and help protect your loved ones financially in the event you pass away. Here’s what you should know about life insurance for smokers and tobacco users.

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Can I get life insurance if I’m a smoker?

Yes, you can still qualify for many life insurance plans if you smoke. But you should expect higher premiums than a non-smoker. This is because smoking is considered a health risk that can reduce life expectancy, as smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and death.¹ Life insurance companies reserve higher rates for those that aren’t expected to live as long. It’s important to note that if you have a smoking-related disease, an insurer may choose to deny your request for a policy.

How life insurance for smokers and tobacco users works

When you fill out a life insurance policy application, you’ll be asked whether you smoke. Depending on the provider and policy, you might also have to undergo a medical exam. During the exam, a health care professional will likely take a sample of blood, saliva, and urine to determine if there is nicotine in your body and whether you smoke.

While it might be tempting to state you don’t smoke or refuse the sample test, doing so can do more harm than good. If an insurance company finds out that you lied on your application and are a smoker, they may refuse to pay a claim.²

How life insurance companies classify smokers

Many people might picture smokers as those who smoke cigarettes. However, there are various other types of products that may classify you as a smoker, tobacco user, or nicotine user by a life insurance policy. These may include the following:

E-cigarettes and vapes
Pipes
Cigars
Hookahs
Heated tobacco
Dissolvable tobacco
Snuff
Marijuana

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Types of life insurance for smokers

There are several life insurance options that may be available to you as a smoker, including:

Term life insurance

Term life insurance is a type of plan that offers coverage for a set period of time, typically between 10 and 30 years. Your premiums may remain the same over the entire term, depending on the type of policy you have. If you pass away while the plan is still active, your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit.

Whole life insurance

Whole life insurance is a permanent policy, meaning it provides coverage for your entire life. Typically, this policy comes with a death benefit and cash value component that lets you earn money in a tax-deferred account. You can often use the cash value while you’re still alive.

Final expense insurance

Final expense life insurance is a permanent policy that is designed to help cover the expenses that often arise in the final stage of life. It can be used by beneficiaries to help pay for out-of-pocket medical bills and funeral and burial expenses.

Guaranteed-issue life insurance

Guaranteed-issue life insurance is another type of whole life insurance that lets you skip health-related questions when you fill out an application, as well as a medical exam. This policy usually comes with a waiting period before benefits kick in.

How much does life insurance for smokers cost?

Life insurance premiums for smokers are higher than normal rates. In fact, premiums can be double or triple non-smoker rates. Here’s a closer look at how much life insurance typically costs for smokers vs. non-smokers. These annual rates are based on a $500,000 20-year term life insurance policy:³

Age	Sex	Smoker	Non-Smoker
20	Female	$554	$175
20	Male	$744	$210
30	Female	$645	$183
30	Male	$795	$213
40	Female	$1,157	$278
40	Male	$1,464	$321
50	Female	$2,560	$636
50	Male	$3,495	$810

Why do smokers have higher life insurance rates than non-smokers?

Life expectancy and life insurance rates go hand in hand. A shorter life expectancy typically leads to more expensive premiums and vice versa. If you’re a smoker, your risk of health conditions that may reduce your life expectancy is often considered higher than it would be if you didn’t smoke. For this reason, you will pay more for a life insurance policy.

Smokers can qualify for life insurance

Even if you smoke, you can still get approved for a life insurance policy and help financially protect loved ones in the event of your passing. Certain Aflac life insurance products may be available without a medical exam. It’s easy to find information about our policy options, and our rates are reasonable. We recommend chatting with an agent to get a better understanding of your options.

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