If you use tobacco products of any kind, you can expect to pay a higher life insurance rate than non-users. Life insurance companies understand the difficulties that tobacco users face with their addiction. It’s not a habit you can break as easily as 1, 2, 3. Still, they view tobacco use negatively, considering users a high risk. Cigarette smokers are viewed even less favorably than those who smoke cigars, a pipe or even use chewing tobacco. You’re high risk lifestyle could result in cancer, cardiovascular disease and other health problems, including an early death, which causes your life insurance rates to soar.
Policies
You can pay a higher rate and get reasonable life insurance coverage from companies with strict rules for tobacco users. There are also a few companies out there who specialize in policies for tobacco users. If you choose to go with this option, you might be able to save some money on your policy, though you will still pay more than a non-tobacco user.
Be honest about your tobacco use when applying for life insurance. Any medical exam required can easily determine if you fibbed or not. This could result in no coverage at all. if you are an occasional smoker, you could get a lower or non-smoker rate, whereas those who smoke moderately to heavily will not. The same goes for people who use tobacco products other than cigarettes; their rates will probably be better than that of the cigarette smoker.
What Can You Do?
Life insurance is obviously a concern for you. Otherwise, you would not be looking into your options. Even if you have quit smoking and using tobacco products, you might still pay a higher rate the first few years, depending on how long it has been since you quit. After all, the health risks are still there; the damage has been done. It takes a while for your body to restore to the health of a non-smoker.
If you have not quit smoking or using tobacco products, you could always either quit or try to quit. It is easier said than done, though. Some people can lay the tobacco and cigarettes aside and never look back. Other struggle to quit, often turning to a variety of methods to help them; some successful, others not so much. Then, there are those people who actually enjoy their tobacco use. Sure, it is an addiction, but also something they like to do. Who has the right to judge what makes another happy?
If quitting is not in the cards for you, look into life insurance policies that ask little to no nosy personal or health questions and do not require a health exam. You might pay a little more than a standard policy, but you will still save money over those policies that have strict tobacco use rules and penalize you for that personal choice.
