Smoking Insurance Questions & Answers

How do life insurance underwriters view individuals who smoke?

Finding life insurance for smokers is an activity that is generally classified as a higher risk by underwriters when it comes to buying and getting rated for life insurance.

There is an abundance of documented health risks ranging from cancer to high blood pressure, and numerous other medical conditions that are associated to smoking. Nonetheless, even though a smoker will most likely receive a lower rating, insurers can be vastly different in the criteria that they use to rate a person.

There are some insurers who are very lenient for people who are considered as a “social smoker” and only indulge several times a year, but other insurers will not consider any differentiation between regular and occasional use.

Some companies will also determine how a person is rated according to the amount they smoke on a daily base, and may classify some as moderate or a heavy smoker which can impact how they are rated.

However, when it comes to underwriting a person who smokes, a variety of other factors will also be used in how a person is rated such as the number of years they have been smoking, their age, weight, cholesterol level and blood pressure as all of these are areas which can be more severely impacted by smoking.

Obtaining life insurance for smokers is definitely possible but how a person is rated may vary.

How much will YOUR life insurance cost?

There's only one way to find out. Get a free, no-obligation quote now.

What are the health risks for smoking?

Smoking is an activity which has received a lot medical investigation and research. It has been fairly well established that there are a vast number of potential health risks associated to smoking that can cause harm to a person.

Smoking is considered for being responsible as the main cause for lung cancer. Additionally, smoking has been clearly linked to a variety of cardiopulmonary problems such as COPD (Chronic obstruction pulmonary disease), emphysema, coronary disease, stroke, and chronic bronchitis.

Asides from lung cancer, smoking has been attributed to a wide variety of other cancers such as cancer of the mouth, throat, trachea, larynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, and pancreas. It also a major contributor to high blood pressure and in causing diabetes milletus.

Finding life Insurance for smokers

Obtaining life insurance for smokers is very possible but as this activity can significantly reduce a person’s lifespan. The majority of smokers will be rated lower by just about every insurer.

However, as life insurance companies use different means to classify and rate people for a policy, not every company is the same. Some companies will rate every smoker the same regardless of much or how little they smoke. Some companies have more liberal classifications for smokers.

For those who are occasional or social smokers, they too will be rated differently from company to company.

Finding the most affordable policy at the best premium if your are smoker is best obtained through an independent agent who is experienced in insuring smokers and who knows the best companies to obtain a policy at the cheapest premium.