Here's something that surprises many smokers: yes, you can absolutely get life insurance. Will it cost more? Unfortunately, yes—often two to four times what non-smokers pay. But here's the good news: coverage is available, and if you know what insurers are looking for, you can find policies that fit your budget and protect your family's future.
Whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars, use a pipe, chew tobacco, or vape, life insurance companies consider you a higher risk. That's because tobacco use is linked to serious health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illness. But that doesn't mean you're locked out of coverage—it just means you need to understand how insurers evaluate smokers and what options are available to you.
How Much More Do Smokers Pay?
Let's talk numbers. On average, smokers pay anywhere from 100% to 300% more for life insurance than non-smokers. That means if a non-smoker pays $50 per month for a policy, a smoker might pay $100 to $200 for the same coverage. The exact difference depends on several factors: your age, overall health, how much coverage you need, what type of tobacco you use, and how often you use it.
Here's what makes it even trickier: insurance companies don't all define "smoker" the same way. Most use a 12-month lookback period—if you've used any tobacco or nicotine products in the past year, you're classified as a smoker. Some insurers extend this to 24 or even 36 months. And when we say tobacco products, we mean everything: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, nicotine gum, nicotine patches, and yes, vaping devices.
What About Vaping?
If you switched from cigarettes to vaping thinking you'd qualify for non-smoker rates, we've got some disappointing news. The vast majority of life insurance companies classify vapers the same as traditional smokers. Why? Two main reasons. First, most vape products contain nicotine, which shows up on the medical exam insurers require. Second, since vaping is relatively new, there isn't enough long-term research on its health effects, so insurers play it safe and treat it like smoking.
In 2016, the FDA officially classified e-cigarettes and vaping equipment as Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, essentially grouping them with tobacco products. This gave insurers regulatory backing for their classification policies. There have been a few exceptions—Prudential briefly offered non-smoker rates to vapers—but even they've announced changes to align vaping with smoking in their underwriting.
How Quitting Affects Your Rates
Here's where things get encouraging. If you quit smoking or using nicotine products, you won't be stuck with smoker rates forever. Most insurance companies will let you reapply for non-smoker rates after you've been tobacco-free for a specific period—typically 12 months, though some require 24 to 36 months. That's completely tobacco-free, meaning no cigarettes, no cigars, no vaping, no nicotine patches or gum.
When you reapply, you'll need to take another medical exam, which includes testing for nicotine and cotinine (a nicotine byproduct) in your system. If you pass, your premiums can drop dramatically—we're talking 50% to 75% savings in many cases. Some insurers even let you convert your existing policy to non-smoker rates without buying a new policy, which can save you the hassle and cost of reapplying.
Even if you're not planning to quit right now, it's worth getting coverage today. Life insurance premiums are based on your age—the older you get, the more expensive coverage becomes. Locking in a policy now, even at smoker rates, means you're protected. And if you do quit down the road, you can always reapply or request a rate reduction.
Why Being Honest Matters
It might be tempting to fudge the truth on your application to get lower premiums. Don't. Seriously. Life insurance companies require a medical exam that tests for nicotine and cotinine. If you say you're a non-smoker and the test says otherwise, your application will be denied or you'll be reclassified as a smoker anyway—but now with a red flag on your record.
Even worse, if you lie and somehow slip through the underwriting process, the insurer can contest your policy if you die within the first two years (called the contestability period). They'll review your medical records, and if they discover you misrepresented your smoking status, they can deny the claim entirely. That means your family gets nothing—the exact opposite of why you bought life insurance in the first place.
Shopping Around Makes a Huge Difference
Not all insurers price smoker policies the same way. Some companies specialize in higher-risk applicants and offer more competitive rates for smokers. Others are particularly strict. The difference between the most expensive and least expensive quote for the same coverage can be thousands of dollars over the life of your policy.
This is where working with an independent insurance agent or using a comparison platform pays off. They can shop your application to multiple insurers and find you the best rate for your specific situation. Some insurers also distinguish between occasional cigar smokers and daily cigarette users, offering better rates for less frequent tobacco use. If you only smoke cigars a few times a year, make sure to mention that—it could qualify you for preferred smoker rates instead of standard smoker rates.
How to Get Started
Getting life insurance as a smoker isn't complicated, but it does require some homework. Start by calculating how much coverage you need—think about your mortgage, debts, income replacement, and future expenses like your kids' college tuition. Then decide whether term life insurance (coverage for a specific number of years) or permanent life insurance (coverage for your entire life) makes more sense for your situation. Term is almost always cheaper and works well for most people.
Get quotes from multiple insurers—at least three to five—so you can compare rates and coverage options. Be completely honest about your smoking habits on every application. And remember, even if the premiums feel high right now, the cost of not having coverage is far higher. Your family's financial security is worth the investment. Whether you're a smoker today or planning to quit tomorrow, the best time to get life insurance is now.
