Jason Fisher Smokers are aware their habit is dangerous to their health. Quitting smoking is difficult and often takes many tries over a long period of time, if the person chooses to stop. If you smoke cigarettes, even if you’re trying to stop, your ability to purchase life insurance can be limited (or just more expensive). No exam life insurance for smokers can be an even harder hurdle, if you want to pay low rates.
Unfortunately, smoking is responsible for about half a million deaths each year. If you’re a regular smoker, life insurance can be a valuable way to provide for your family in the event of an untimely death, but be prepared for a higher premium than non-smokers, period.
The good news is life insurance for smokers is available, and certain carriers are more aggressive to offer coverage. There aren’t quite as many options, but if you’re persistent and willing to shop around, you can find policies to purchase. Fortunately, we can make this much, much easier for you.
The Difficulties of No Exam Life Insurance For Smokers
In a word: price. Smokers have an increased risk for many illnesses such as heart disease, lung cancer and even dental problems. No matter if you smoke two packs a day or just a few cigarettes throughout the week, life insurance companies will consider you an increased risk for coverage.
Premiums for smokers are typically double those of non-smokers. If the applicant has other health issues, premiums can actually triple in price.
Note that most life insurance providers consider a person a smoker until they’ve gone a full year without smoking a single cigarette. So, even if you’re currently in the process of quitting smoking, you’ll still be faced with higher rates.
Misrepresenting your smoking status can result in the cancellation of your policy, and can affect your ability to get future policies, as well. Even worse, if you should die from a smoking-related illness, your policy could be delayed, reduced, or even completely denied.
Simply be honest and up front, and your agent can help you get the most suitable insurance policy.
There is good news for users of other types of tobacco products, however. There are more life insurance options for people who don’t smoke but use chewing or sniffing tobacco. Vape users also can be granted non-smoking status by many providers. In some cases, even marijuana users will be considered non-smokers.
Factors Considered by Insurers
Approximately 85% of smokers have tried to quit smoking at least once. So the stereotype of a smoker as someone who doesn’t take care of his health otherwise is often incorrect. You want to maintain overall good health in order to get the lowest possible rates.
Even if you’re applying for a smoker-specific policy, other factors will be taken into the consideration by the insurer. These include:
- Your age
- Your weight
- Any pre-existing medical conditions
Smoking is dangerous to your health, but there are still varying degrees of “good health” a smoker can be. While you obviously can’t control your age, you do want to keep your weight down and follow your doctor’s orders regarding any health issues. Not only will this improve your quality of life, but you’ll also be able to purchase more insurance to provide for your family.
Why Buy Life Insurance?
Some people attempt to quit smoking before buying a life insurance policy. This is often a mistake. Quitting smoking can take some people a long time.
If the worst were to happen, and you were to die unexpectedly, you need a way to provide for your loved ones. Even a small policy used to cover burial expenses can ease the burden on your family substantially, even if you own it just a few years.
Most smokers, especially those who are primary providers for the family, are encouraged to purchase life insurance as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you quit smoking, because all sorts of accidents can happen. If you choose to quit smoking later, many providers will reduce your premiums and grant you non-smoker status. With a simple mouth swab test, you rate can be reduced without any further medical exams.
The Key to Finding the Best Life Insurance Policy for Smokers
First, know that you’re not going to have as many options as non-smokers. This doesn’t mean you should simply settle for the first policy you find. Be willing to shop around.
You want to search for policies specifically geared for smokers. Aside from online searches, you should also consider contacting an independent insurance agent. They will often be able to find policies specifically tailored to your smoking status, health and budget.
You’ll also want to look into insurance policies which require no medical exam, and even policies which require no medical questions. These provide potentially less benefits, but are often an effective way to cover basic burial expenses and other smaller costs.
If you’re younger and in relatively good health, your best option will probably be traditional life insurance for smokers, as long as you are willing to do the medical examination. For someone much older who is in poorer health, no medical exam insurance might be the better choice, or even the only choice.
Regardless of age, completing an exam is the key to the cheapest rates. No exam life insurance policies cost more than fully underwritten ones.
Fortunately, there’s a fair amount of competition in these markets. Over one thousand million people in the world smoke, 40 million in the U.S. alone, and many of them want or need health insurance. The competition among providers is a great benefit to customers.
Don’t Let Smoking Prevent You from Taking Action
Many young people don’t focus too much on the long-term future. This can be especially true for smokers, because the negative effects of smoking can take decades to develop. But if you’re young, even if you’re a regular smoker, there is often a tremendous advantage to buying a life insurance policy.
Even if you’re older and already have health conditions, a No Exam policy is a way to cover funeral costs. During your family’s time of grief, why saddle them with the extra financial burden? Obtaining a life insurance policy for someone in poor health isn’t as difficult as many people often think.
Even smokers understand that cigarettes aren’t the best health choice. But that doesn’t mean smokers don’t deserve a reliable way to plan for their family’s financial future. If you’re a smoker, there are plenty of life insurance policies designed for you in mind.
