Smoking and Your Rate

There is a negative correlation between smoking and life insurance rates. Insurers will give a lower premium rate to buyers who do not smoke or use tobacco. If you smoked or used any tobacco product in the past, most carriers will consider you a non-smoker if you have not used any tobacco product for one year prior to applying for coverage. Some insurance companies offer special rates for occasional cigar users and for those individuals only using smokeless tobacco. If you purchased a policy while a smoker, you can re-apply for a reduced non-smoker rate one year after you have quit using tobacco. Consumers should be aware that nicotine can be detected in a variety of routine screening tests that are now commonly required by most insurance companies. Insurance company guidelines regarding tobacco use and rules regarding reconsideration after you have quit using tobacco vary from company to company and are subject to the company’s current rules and procedures.