If you’re searching for – life insurance for smokers – betcha think you won’t be able to find affordable rates!
…But here’s the truth.
Whether you smoke cigarettes, a pipe, marijuana, e-cigarettes, or chew tobacco, you ABSOLUTELY can find affordable life insurance for smokers.
Come on Chris – how do you know?!
...because we’ve literally helped HUNDREDS of smokers find just that.
In fact, we have so much experience that I decided to share this 5,000 word informational post, to answer every single question you might have. Let’s face it life insurance for smokers isn’t a straightforward topic!
This is a must read if you’re looking for information on life insurance for smokers and want to make the right choice for you and your family.
Here is a quick guide to topics that may be of particular interest to you.
NOTE: NOT ALL SMOKERS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
Maybe you are a social smoker that lights up 12 times per year…
Or possibly you are a chain smoker with a SERIOUS habit. Check out my thoughts below if you simply want to cut to the chase and find out what will impact YOUR particular rates:
Quick Guide to Life Insurance for Smokers! *Click on Your Concerns*
So Grab a Cuppa Coffee & Let’s Get Down to Business: Life Insurance for Smokers
I’ m gonna level with ya. If you’re looking for life insurance for smokers, whether it be cigarette, cigar, or pipe smokers, it’s likely you’ve run into rates that are DOUBLE even TRIPLE the premiums non-smokers pay.
WHEW! Now that’s not what you want to hear.
The good news is there are some life insurance carriers whose niche is offering the lowest premiums for cigarette smokers…
…and still others that offer Non Tobacco ratings for people who are cigar and pipe smokers.
Finally, there are even a few carriers that offer Non Tobacco ratings to e-cigarette or even Marijuana users!
The trick is to figure out which company is right for YOU.
This is where the advice of an independent agent such as Huntley Wealth becomes indispensable!
SAVE UP TO 73% ON LIFE INSURANCE!
Think saving money on life insurance is as easy as getting a quick online quote? Think again! You need an expert guide. We know the right companies for every age, health issue, and need. It’s quick and easy! Get started with a free life insurance quote now!
Ok Chris, You got my attention!
Which Companies Offer the Best Life Insurance Rates for Smokers – and I mean traditional cigarettes?
Well ladies & gentleman, my life would be wayyyy more simple if I had a cut and dried answer. Check out my advice below!
Virtually everyone who is a smoker googling life insurance for smokers asks the SAME question.
What’s the best life insurance company for smokers?
YES there are life insurance companies that are more lenient than others when it comes to smoking – but they vary according to YOUR personal circumstances.
If I were to commit myself to a VERY simplistic answer I’d advise you to check out the following life insurance companies:
Best Companies: Life Insurance for Smokers
Banner
Transamerica
North American
With that said, I am going to share a word to the wise.
Life insurance companies ARE NOT one size fits all.
Your individual situation plays a huge role in picking the right insurer. This choice can save you THOUSANDS of dollars over the life of your policy.
Remember, underwriting guidelines are ever changing. At Huntley Wealth we make it a priority to keep abreast of which companies work best for specific conditions and situations!
To give you some insight here are a few simple examples:
Middle Aged Male Smoker: Nationwide Vs Mutual Of Omaha
This client is:
- a 50 year old healthy male smoker
- he needs $500,000 in coverage
- for a 30 year term
Nationwide comes in at #1 at $6,165 annually.
…BUT what if this same man favors Mutual of Omaha for some reason? For arguments sake let’s say this is the only quote he gets.
Mutual of Omaha is #10 on the list, charging $6,838 for the same 30 year policy.
That’s $673 more, or an 11% difference! You see, if you need life insurance for smokers, it pays to shop around.
Young Male Smoker: Assurity Vs Prudential
This next client is:
- a 32 year old healthy male smoker
- who needs $1,000,000 in coverage
- for a 30 year term
With Assurity, he’ll pay $2,560 annually. Looking pretty good right?
…BUT sadly this client did NOT speak to an independent life insurance agent like those at Huntley Wealth.
SOOOO he opts for the name he knows. Prudential.
This moves him down a mere 9 spots in terms of ranking for his particular circumstances. Prudential comes in at $3,085 annually.
Whomp, whomp – folks, that’s a 2o% increase in premiums.
Middle Aged Female Smoker Taking Medication: AIG Vs Transamerica
What about an older woman? Let’s check out another perspective client:
- a 59 year old woman
- she is taking a few medications
- requires $250,000 in coverage
- for 20 years
This time, American General (AIG) is the leader at $3,479/year. We managed to find this lady some SERIOUSLY good coverage.
….by contrast, what if this SAME woman had her heart set on Transamerica – they are a price-leader, after all!
Transamerica is a BAD choice for her circumstances. Yep!
She’d pay $4,150/year! That’s $671 more – each and every year…or $13,420 more over the life of the policy!
I bet she could find something better to do with that money!
The Moral of the Story? If You’re Looking for Life Insurance for Smokers You’d better Shop Around!
You can CLEARLY see that not every carrier works for every applicant.
As a smoker, you NEED to find a company who is actively competing for your business.
ANY company will SELL you a policy, but if you aren’t careful, you can make a very costly error by choosing one that will charge you MORE.
HEALTH ISSUES? WE’LL HELP GET YOU APPROVED!
At Huntley Wealth, we specialize in helping individuals with high risk medical issues. You name it, and we’ve seen it. We’ll help you get approved quickly at a rate you can afford. Get started with a free life insurance quote now!
OK, OK I get it! Smoking = MORE EXPENSIVE premiums. Should I quit BEFORE I apply?
Hoo Boy! If I had a dollar every time I answered this question. The answer is why wait? Check out my advice below:
So you need life insurance NOW….
But you don’t want to pay the piper. You read all the information I’m providing and you KNOW that life insurance for smokers is EXPENSIVE.
Should you quit and then apply?
Well I’ve got some advice that you may not have thought of.
The good news is, if you get a policy now while you’re still smoking, you can qualify for cheaper premiums later on when and IF you quit smoking!
I never recommend that clients DELAY getting life insurance.
…and WHY do you think that is?
Be a Superhero and Plan for the Needs of Your Family NOW
…because life happens while you are making plans!
I have a client that had 4 beautiful, young children – and one day he just didn’t come home.
Sadly he had a heart attack at the age 57. There were no warning signs. He was athletic and ate well. The thing is, you don’t always know what is lurking around the corner.
This gentleman, in my opinion, is a TRUE superhero.
He took the time to plan for his family and now his children will have enough money to attend university and his wife didn’t have to sell their family home to satisfy his debts.
Which brings me back to the advice I mentioned above. If you are looking for life insurance for smokers…
…your best bet is to take the amount of insurance you need right now, while you’re healthy.
Then try to quit smoking.
After one year of no tobacco use, as long as you’re still healthy, you can apply for a new policy and get standard non tobacco rates with most carriers.
This will cut your premiums in half. Then for each year you stay away from cigarettes, you climb the ladder of rates available to you, starting with Standard Plus after 2 years, then Preferred after 3, then Preferred Plus after 3 – 5 years with most carriers.
So, attention all cigarette smokers who are getting ripped off on life insurance. Here’s an incentive…quit now, and after 12 short months, you may just get the same rates as your non smoking, athletic neighbor!
It’s Called a Health Class Reconsideration and It Can Save You $$
Some life insurance companies are even more competitive, and offer reduced premiums at earlier intervals after you have quit smoking.
All you have to do is replace your policy or apply for a ‘health class reconsideration’. The savings you derive after being tobacco free year for a year can be quite significant!
Hey Chris! This doesn’t apply to me! I already quit! How will life insurers rate me?
High five! Quitting is NEVER easy so kudos to you. My answer? I depends on WHEN you quit and how healthy you are.
This is a GREAT question.
Because there are a lot of quitters out there that don’t want to be penalized for past performance.
This is why I created this handy chart to illustrate how life insurance companies may view your particular circumstances
Quit Smoking for 1 Year
Congratulations! Most companies will consider you for their Standard non tobacco rates after quitting smoking cigarettes for 1 year. However, I know of at least 10 companies who may offer better than standard rates after quitting for 12 months. Banner Life claims to offer Standard Plus (one rate class better than standard), as well as Prudential, John Hancock, Protective and six more. But wait! There are two progressive companies who will consider an offer of Preferred Non Smoker, which are Minnesota Life and Nationwide! After only one year of not smoking! Pretty good, huh?
Quit Smoking for 2 Years
Wonderful! At the 2 year mark, 6 more carriers will consider an offer of Standard Plus non tobacco, such as American National, Met Life and Voya. But more importantly, another 8 join the ranks of those companies offering a possible rating of Preferred non tobacco! Remember, the better the rating, the better the pricing! As you see, it is vital that you use an independent agent so you will have access to the best carrier for your specific case!
Quit Smoking for 3 Years
Preferred Plus, yes, I said Preferred Plus, the very best rating an insurance company offers, is potentially available after your 3rd anniversary of smoking cessation, as long as the rest of your health and lifestyle qualifies for that rating! At the time of this writing, 5 insurance companies – Banner Life, Lincoln National, Minnesota Life, Mutual of Omaha and North American (if under 70) use this criteria for underwriting!
Quit Smoking for 5+ Years
If this is you, every insurance company that I know of will consider you for their best non smoking class, as long as you can qualify for that class otherwise. In other words, you can quit reading this article right now!
INSIDER TIP: Be sure to tell your physician that you quit smoking! It’s also important for you to share the date you had your last cigarette. You want them to record this in their file. Otherwise your medical records will likely show you are still a smoker after you quit! Specifically ask your doctor to make this notation to avoid any complications at a later date.
Wow this process is more complicated that I thought! Chris is there anything I need to know BEFORE I apply?
Hell yeah! Like any process you should be PREPARED before you jump in. Check out these tips now:
Life INsurance for Smokers: Important points You should know before you apply
Always Tell the Truth on Your Medical Questionnaire
When you apply for a smokers life insurance, you will take a medical exam or fill out a medical questionnaire. As a smoker, you might be tempted to fudge the truth a bit and either deny being a smoker or claim you’ve quit.
Don’t do this! It’s just plain insurance fraud!
Remember your claim can be denied if it comes out that you didn’t tell the truth about your smoking habit. Additionally, if you do have to get a medical exam, nicotine is bound to show up in a blood analysis. Do yourself a favor and always be honest about your smoking habit.
If you have only recently quit smoking, you might think you won’t screen for nicotine in a lab test. The fact is; you must quit smoking for at least one full year before you will qualify for a reduced premium.
Non Tobacco Rates for Occasional Cigarette Smokers
Here’s a ridiculous fact.
If you apply for life insurance, and admit to smoking even just 1 cigarette over the past 12 months, you will be classified as a smoker at every insurance company in the country…
…except one!
That means the best rating you will qualify for is Preferred Tobacco at every insurance company. This will sadly double your premiums…
…that is until now!
Breaking News for Occasional Smokers!
I confirmed that a well established life insurance company in the U.S., will allow you to smoke the occasional cigarette, and still approve you for their best Preferred Non Tobacco rates!
“Non Tobacco Life Insurance Rates for Occasional Smokers” – Click to Tweet
By “occasional cigarette use”, I mean to say you will qualify if are a VERY limited smoker. A maximum of 24 cigarettes per year, is the cutoff and you must test negative for tobacco in the medical exam.
So if you enjoy a cigarette once or twice a month in a social gathering, say a birthday party, or to watch a ballgame with some friends, you are merely a “social smoker”.
The best news my friend, is that you will NOT have to pay tobacco rates for smokers life insurance any more!
SAVE UP TO 73% ON LIFE INSURANCE!
Think saving money on life insurance is as easy as getting a quick online quote? Think again! You need an expert guide. We know the right companies for every age, health issue, and need. It’s quick and easy! Get started with a free life insurance quote now!
Ok Chris I qualify as a social smoker. So what does that mean to me in dollars and cents?
A LOT! There are drastic savings to be had. That is if you have the foresight to engage an independent life insurance agent, like those at Huntley Wealth! Read on…..
It always seems so unfair to me that someone who shares a cigarette with a friend over a meal a few times a year would be tarred with the same brush as someone who smokes a pack a day.
That can’t be right!
Thankfully this is changing and people are feeling it in their premiums.
For example, a healthy 50 year old male recently purchased a $500K, 20 year term policy.
He smoked 3 times last year, so he was rated as a smoker.
Unfortunately, this client pays Preferred Tobacco Premiums of $316 Per Month!
BUT if he called me, I would have placed him with this great company and he would have gotten Preferred Non Tobacco Premiums for only $114 Per Month!
That’s an incredible 64% savings! Enough said?
THIS is why those looking for life insurance for smokers should always consult and independent life insurance agent!
Drastic Savings for Social Smokers
When I caught word that this company was issuing smokers life insurance for occasional users at non tobacco rates I sent out the following request:
“I have a proposed insured, 42 year old male, preferred plus in all regards. Recently I got him a 1 Million term policy, but he got rated at preferred smoker due to admitting to smoking 5 to 10 cigarettes per year at social gatherings. Can we get a non tobacco rating with you?”
The same day, I received an email back that stated the following, from a company underwriter:
“With a negative specimen, any of our non tobacco classes would be possible. I would request a quote on these cases, because every situation is different and depending on frequency and type of tobacco we may have different ratings. Thank you!”
So there you have it! A tentative offer from the company underwriter.
*Update March 10, 2016 – yep, this is still true! It’s possible to get a Preferred rating if you smoke 12-24 cigarettes per year. Not only that, it’s possible to obtain a Preferred Plus rating if you smoke up to 12 cigarettes annually! Please take note – you need to qualify for the above mentioned ratings health wise of course.
SOLD! How can I get these great rates – it’s not easy to find fantastic deals when it comes to life insurance for smokers…
You aren’t gonna find these rates by surfing the net. Find out how….
These rates aren’t published anywhere. To find out more call you need to call us today at 877-443-9467.
After you share your smoking habits with us, we can send an email to this company for a quick pre-approval.
If you’re an occasional cigarette user and are just shopping for your first policy, don’t bother with the quote form on the right.
Just call us and we’ll give you the a quote by phone.
Please note the A+ company offering these non smoker rates offers various term policies and guaranteed universal life insurance policies as well.
Save Money by Replacing Your Current Policy
If you’ve purchased a policy in the past 10 years and were classified as a smoker due to infrequent cigarette use, please call us right now. Replacing smokers life insurance with a Non Smoking policy may save you up to 50% in your premiums, depending on your age and how long you’ve had the policy.
HEALTH ISSUES? WE’LL HELP GET YOU APPROVED!
At Huntley Wealth, we specialize in helping individuals with high risk medical issues. You name it, and we’ve seen it. We’ll help you get approved quickly at a rate you can afford. Get started with a free life insurance quote now!
Chris, none of this really applies to me, because I smoke cigars! Where do I stand?
Hmmmm you might be surprised to learn most companies don’t look at you any differently….
Cigar Smokers Beware!
You really need to be careful here. Frustratingly, many carriers don’t distinguish between a pipe/cigar smoker and a cigarette smoker.
This means it’s VERY important to select your life insurance carrier properly. If not, it’s going to cost you a pretty penny.
Thankfully some carriers do offer non tobacco ratings as long as you’re a responsible, occasional user.
By most carriers’ guidelines, that means no more than one celebratory cigar or pipe per month, and you must test negative for nicotine in your urine analysis.
Typically cigar smokers are categorized as Smokers, however….
I’m Happy to Report that Non Tobacco Rates ARE Available for Cigar Smokers!
There are a few carriers that are trailblazers in the non-cigarette tobacco category.
VOYA and American General, for example, offer their Best Rating (Preferred Plus) to responsible tobacco users. I’ve also seen Preferred offers from Banner Life.
Then there’s Lincoln Financial, a company with great 30 year term life insurance rates. They allow up to 24 cigars per year and still offer their preferred non tobacco rating. Of course, your urine analysis (HOS) must test negative for nicotine to get this rate.
This is great news for cigar users, because some people don’t want to buy life insurance from American General right now, even though they allow a cigar per week! Lincoln is a great alternative for them.
You May Want to Get a Piece of the Rock – Cigar Smokers Life Insurance
That being said, the best choice for life insurance for cigar smokers may be Prudential.
Not only do they allow unlimited cigars, chew, and pipe smoking – but you can even test positive for nicotine and still get a non tobacco rating. It’s important to note, that Prudential’s non tobacco rating for these tobacco users is usually more expensive than other carriers’ pref
erred non tobacco ratings.
But it’s still better than paying tobacco rates!
I also found out that Cincinnati Life Insurance Company has become more lenient about the occasional cigar. They allow “no more than 10-12 cigars per year”. In addition, you can also test positive for nicotine. All of the carriers want the HOS, or home office specimen, to be negative, except Prudential and Cincinnati Life.
Unfortunately, Met Life still allows just 4 celebratory cigars per year. That’s too bad. They also have great 30 year term prices. I would send them a lot more business if they would give preferred life insurance rates to people who smoke 12 cigars per year.
As you can see, most life insurance carriers do not distinguish between the man who smokes the occasional Padron and the guy who smokes two packs of cigarettes per day.
This is important because if you smoke cigars and are looking for smokers life insurance, you need to know where to look, or you’ll run the risk of being lumped into the same “tobacco user” category as the daily cigarette smoker.
Which means you’ll shell out two to three times more than a “non-tobacco user”.
Tips for Cigar Smokers
Preferred Plus (Non-Tobacco) Rates are possible smoking one cigar per week:
You can smoke up to one cigar per week, and still qualify as a Preferred Plus Non-Smoker, just like your Olympic Athlete neighbor!
At this writing, VOYA and American General are the only carriers making this offer.
- Cigar use must be admitted at the time of application.
- No more than one cigar per week.
- No nicotine metabolites (cotinine) may be present in the urinalysis done for VOYA or AIG, or any other company within the past 12 months.
- No use of tobacco products other than occasional cigars.
Preferred (Non-Tobacco) Rates possible smoking one cigar per week:
Nationwide allows up to one cigar per week with a Preferred rating possible. If you want a cigar each week, these are the companies you should look for! The same 4 rules apply as noted above.
Preferred (Non-Tobacco) Rates are possible smoking up to 24 cigars per year:
In addition to VOYA and AIG, if you smoke up to 2 cigars per month, American National, Aviva, Lincoln Financial and Minnesota Life should be part of your search. An experienced, independent agent is the one that should help you find the right carrier for your unique health and lifestyle history.
Preferred Plus (Non-Tobacco) Rates for those that smoke only 12 cigars per year:
Many life insurance companies will allow one celebratory cigar per month, as long as the same criteria is met. Assurity, AXA-Equitable, Banner, Genworth, John Hancock, Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, North American, SBLI and Transamerica all allow up to 12 cigars annually to qualify for their best possible rating.
If you Smoke MORE than 1 cigar per week and test positive for nicotine – Non Tobacco Rates are still available:
Prudential has a special class, “Non Smoker Plus”, that allows the cigar smoker to smoke as much as he or she wants and test positive for nicotine on the urine test and still qualify for Non Tobacco rates!
However, their non smoker plus rates won’t be as affordable as preferred with other competitive life insurance companies. The best thing you can do if you’re a cigar smoker looking for life insurance is to speak to a knowledgeable independent agent. They will assess your case and take it the carrier who will give you the best offer.
FIND OUT IN 2 MINUTES IF WE CAN BEAT PRUDENTIAL’S RATE
At Huntley Wealth, we treat every customer like they’re family. Our agents have NO sales quotas, so we’re able to spend all the time necessary with every client…. there’s no hurrying off to the next call with our agents.
What about me? I use e-cigarettes (or vape). Surely this isn’t looked at the same as smoking cigarettes?
This is a changing area for life insurers. Once again you might be surprised to hear that they are currently viewed the same as traditional cigarettes…
Electronic cigarettes and vaping have been touted as a healthier alternative to using tobacco products.
But how do life insurance companies see them?
…and is it easier to obtain the cheapest life insurance for smokers if you use electronic cigarette users rather than traditional smokers?
Tobacco products contain as many as 4,000 forms of chemical compounds, several of which are known carcinogens or cause other health issues.
However, electronic cigarettes, which were first introduced in 2003, also contain nicotine, which is a habit forming drug.
Although very few health studies have been performed on these products, nicotine, which metabolizes into “cotinine”, is, in itself, a harmful product.
Are E-Cigarettes a Healthier Alternative?
Nicotine, or the metabolized form of cotinine, is known to cause a rise in blood pressure, which can have adverse health effects such as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Also the new e-cig industry is not highly regulated and some of these vaping products also use flavoring agents to enhance their appeal to users, which contain a variety of chemical compounds.
The health risks posed by electronic cigarettes are not fully known.
According to M. Brad Drummond, MD of Johns Hopkins “E-cigarettes may be less harmful than cigarettes,” Drummond says. “But we still don’t know enough about their long-term risks or the effects of secondhand exposure.” Web MD
How Do Life Insurers Rate Electronic Cigarettes?
As many as 9 out of 10 life insurance underwriters rate e-cigarettes in the same manner as any other type of traditional tobacco product.
…But, don’t be discouraged.
Not all life insurers are the same.
Some companies are much more lenient than others. At the time of this writing, insurance companies are in the process of ongoing reconsideration of e-cigarettes.
Prudential will possibly offer a non-smoking rating for those that indulge.
…and as we learned in the cigar-smoking chapter, they also allow you to test positive for nicotine in your urine!
Another problem life insurers have to overcome is the blood test required for the medical exam. The insurer is looking specifically to find evidence of cotinine which indicates that you are using or ingesting products that contain nicotine.
Insurers are unable to differentiate between whether you are consuming regular tobacco products or are just restricting yourself to vaping. Either way, they view ingesting nicotine as being harmful in and of itself.
If you are looking for the cheapest life insurance for smokers then give us a call at Huntley Wealth and we can go through your options.
Where to Find the Best Rates for Electronic Cigarettes?
If you are using e-cigarettes – especially if you are only an occasional user, the best way to find the most affordable rates is though an independent life insurance agent.
Independent agents, such as Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services, have access to dozens of life insurance companies.
We know which are more liberal and provide the best rates for consumers of electronic cigarettes or for other pre-existing health issues.
We also keep up with the myriad changes that occur throughout our industry, as carriers constantly evaluate and adjust their underwriting guidelines as personal habits change.
If you are only an occasional user of electronic cigarettes, there are some life insurers which will give you a better rating than others.
You don’t want to go with a company that lumps all tobacco or alternative vaping users into the same category – whether you use the products regularly or infrequently.
At Huntley Wealth we are proud to say we find cheap life insurance for smokers!
NOTE: if you cease smoking or using electronic cigarettes completely for at least 1 year, we can set you up with a life insurance company that will be happy to re-evaluate your health situation. The best part? It’s very likely your premiums will be reduced after review!
Not all companies do this, but an independent agent such as myself, knows which companies are more liberal in when it comes to smoking related ratings.
SAVE UP TO 73% ON LIFE INSURANCE!
Think saving money on life insurance is as easy as getting a quick online quote? Think again! You need an expert guide. We know the right companies for every age, health issue, and need. It’s quick and easy! Get started with a free life insurance quote now!
What about me? I chew tobacco. Although I am considering using gum or the patch to quit!
You will be surprised to find out that using gum or the patch is looked at similarly to chewing tobacco! Read more below…
Tobacco and nicotine products can be consumed in a many forms.
Aside from smoking, people chew tobacco, use Nicorette (or other brands of nicotine gum) or make use of nicotine patches to stop smoking.
You probably wonder why I would lump those three products together.
Clearly one is using tobacco actively, while the others are meant to help QUIT tobacco.
The answer is, for the most part, is life insurance companies DO NOT make any real distinction between use of tobacco, and other types of consumed nicotine products.
The good news is, at least ONE company will classify you as a non smoker. You guessed it – Prudential!
This solid, A+ rated company, offers a special ‘Non Tobacco’ rating as long as you haven’t smoked any cigarettes in the past year, but still chew tobacco or use a nicotine patch or gum.
The best part is there’s no limit to your tobacco use. You can even test positive for nicotine in a blood analysis, and still be approved at their non tobacco rate!
Another top carrier that has loosened their ratings for other forms of tobacco use is Lincoln Financial. They allow for pipe smoking, cigar, gum and patch in their Standard Non Smoker class. You must pass the nicotine lab test to qualify.
How Other Life Insurance Companies View You
There are typically 3 categories you might fall into when a company identifies your use of tobacco.
Before I outline how they rate tobacco users, I want to make to make it very clear that it’s vital you never lie about your tobacco consumption.
This form of deceit is fraudulent and can cause your claim to be denied if they discover you failed to reveal the truth about your tobacco use.
Always be honest about it.
Regular Users of Tobacco Related Products:
If you’re a regular user of tobacco products, regardless if you chew, smoke a pipe or use electronic cigarettes, you will be evaluated and charged a premium that is the same as a pack a day cigarette smoker by most companies.
- That is all companies except the ONE I made reference to in this article.
All others will classify you as a smoker if you test positive for nicotine in the urine exam.
Regular users of tobacco products are generally charged 2-3 times what a non-smoker would pay for a life insurance policy, be it term, whole life or universal life.
Non-Tobacco Rating for Occasional Use of Tobacco Related Products:
Many people infrequently smoke a pipe, or chew tobacco. Which means if they were to take a urine sample, it would be negative. They are not regular users, so they may be treated slightly differently.
It depends on the company. Some insurers make no differentiation whether you smoke or chew 10 times a day or indulge once a month. The good news is that some companies will give you latitude on how much they charge for very occasional use. Best case scenario, you may be able to qualify for the best non tobacco rating with occasional (non-cigarette) tobacco use.
To qualify for this better rating, you can NOT test positive for nicotine in a blood analysis.
Non Use of Tobacco Related Products:
You might be thinking about quitting completely or have already quit using tobacco related products. How will that affect the cost of your life insurance premium?
This varies from company to company. Most insurers will classify you as a non-smoker if you’ve managed to completely quit the habit for 1 year. At this point, you can generally qualify for standard non tobacco rates with most companies,. There are also a handful that will approve you at better than standard after quitting for just 1 year.
The maximum period where you will be deemed as a non-smoker or tobacco consumer is 5 years. This applies to all companies that I’m aware of. To sum it up, you don’t have to pay tobacco rates if you smoke a pipe, chew tobacco or snuff, or use electronic cigarettes. Call us for non tobacco rates at 877-443-9467.
Ok I have a secret! I smoke weed! Now what?
Hmmm – this depends on the carrier!
Yes, you can still be approved for life insurance if you smoke marijuana, even without a prescription.
But is life insurance for pot smokers gonna cost ya?
Well, life insurance carriers vary widely on how they treat pot smokers. If you admit to smoking marijuana in the past 3 years, you certainly won’t qualify for their preferred non tobacco ratings.
I’ve seen some carriers offer as good as standard non tobacco for a “social marijuana smoker” who admitted to smoking marijuana not more than once per year.
Note: this same company would not offer their non smoker ratings to someone who smokes one cigarette per year. Go figure.
***Important: Read what can happen if you don’t disclose pot use on life insurance application***
Life Insurance for Pot Smokers: Do They See You as a Smoker?
Typically life insurance companies treat marijuana like smokers.
In this case, they would pay what a cigarette smoker would pay in comparable health, which at least doubles the premium.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have some carriers who say since it’s illegal almost everywhere, they won’t offer life insurance to pot smokers. This is obviously a point of view that changes with the laws.
If you do smoke the occasional joint (marijuana cigarette), and end up with a smoker’s offer, the best solution here is to take out the insurance you need, pay the smoker’s premiums, and quit smoking pot.
Which means life insurance for pot smokers can be costly.
I would then suggest, after a year, you can reapply for coverage with a different carrier. If you’re still healthy, you have a great chance of getting a standard non tobacco rating, which will save you about 50% on average.
As of this writing, we have 14 companies that will consider any and all marijuana use as Smoker’s rates. However, we currently have 6 carriers that will consider Non Smoker’s rates from Standard, all the way to Preferred Best, depending on the frequency of use.
SHeesh Chris!
This is kinda unfair! I only smoke marijuana once a year! That’s harsh.
Honesty is the best policy my friend – and your independent life insurance agent is your best ally! Read more….
Gosh life insurance for pot smokers is costly.
So, what if you smoke pot twice a year, once on your Anniversary and once while on vacation?
I’ve got some good news for you – you could qualify for Preferred Best rates from American General!
Or, if you smoke twice a month, and you test negative, you could get a non-smoker rating of Standard Plus from Prudential. If you smoke as often as twice a week, but test negative, then you could get a non-smoker rating of Preferred from Aviva!
It’s important to understand you can only qualify for a standard non tobacco rate or preferred smoker rate with full disclosure on the application. Even though many life insurance carriers’ blood tests do not check for marijuana, you most definitely should disclose your smoking.
Insurance Fraud
In a nutshell, if you don’t it’s fraud!
Secondly, if you die within two years of the policy date, the insurance company is entitled to investigate before paying the death benefit.
They will pull medical records and if they find THC in them, they have grounds to deny the claim, since you made a material misrepresentation on the application.
Obviously they would have denied your coverage with this information or denied you altogether.
So what if you are smoking marijuana with a prescription?
In this case, you are much more likely to see non tobacco ratings. The bigger issue here will be the underlying medical condition that the marijuana has been prescribed as a treatment.
I only use marijuana for medical reasons. Surely that is viewed more leniently!
Yes – but this depends on the severity of your medical condition. This will be assessed as well!
People with glaucoma, cancer, epilepsy, and intestinal problems are commonly prescribed medical marijuana. Setting your marijuana use aside, any of these conditions will either be rated or cause a declined application on their own.
So the severity of your underlying condition will be the primary factor in determining your offer – not the fact that you are looking for life insurance for pot smokers.
The underwriter will need to see records from the doctor that prescribed the marijuana, to determine what rate your medical condition warrants.
For example, one of my clients suffered from residual pain due to an injury 10 years ago. He had a prescription for medical marijuana, which he ‘vaped’ daily. Prudential rated him Standard Plus (non-smoker) despite his admitted daily use.
If you’re smoking marijuana illegally, and disclose this on the application, rest assured that this information is protected by HIPAA laws. Your agent or insurance company cannot “turn you in” to the authorities.
So there are no criminal implications of admitting to smoking marijuana on your life insurance application.
Key Articles to Reference:
- How Drug Use Affected Heath Ledger’s Life Insurance Death Claim
- Brittany Murphy, Drugs, and Life Insurance
- Whitney Houston – How Drug Use Affects Life Insurance Approval
- Been Declined due to Pot Smoking
What Types of Policies Are Available for Pot Smokers
There are 4 types of life insurance policies available and they include Term Life Insurance, Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance, Whole Life Insurance and Universal Life.
Virtually all types of life insurance are obtainable, if you are looking for life insurance for smokers. However, we focus only on the two safest forms of coverage – Term and Guaranteed Universal Life (GUL).
Term: is the most affordable form of life insurance, hands down, for smokers and nonsmokers alike. This type of policy covers you for a specified period of years known as a ‘Term’ which can be 10, 20 or 30 years, for example. You pay a set premium for that term and this type of policy provides a death benefit. However, once that term is up, it will have to be replaced with another policy if your need for life insurance still exists. Most Term policies are also Convertible, which simply means that instead of ending, they can be Converted to a permanent policy if replacement is cost-prohibitive.
Guaranteed Universal Life: is our other set-premium form of coverage. It is guaranteed to remain in force, as long as you pay the agreed premium, well into old age. You can select a policy that will take you to age 90, 100, or for as long as you live, no matter how long you live. This policy is more expensive than the Term policy, however, it lasts longer and will never need to be replaced, which is a comfort, especially to our older clients who don’t want to have to qualify for, or afford a new policy once they reach 60, 70 or 80 years old. You also have the option of buying term life insurance in addition to having a guaranteed universal life insurance policy to tide you over for periods of time when you think you need extra coverage.
Whole Life: Generally we don’t recommend whole life – if you MUST go for a permanent policy we typically suggest Guaranteed Universal Life to our clients.
Ok! I get it!
You are looking for cheap life insurance for smokers.
Now that we’ve seen how smoking affects your life insurance rates – you probably understand why I reiterate your need to get a GREAT independent life insurance agent.
As you can see one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to life insurance for smokers and you need someone who gets your SPECIFIC needs.
Smoking can really ratchet up your premiums. When you’re talking about doubling even tripling your premiums there is NO room for messing around.
The savings can be in the 10’s of thousands of dollars over a 30 year term! That is NOTHING to sniff at.
Sadly if you select an unseasoned or captive agent, you will not get the best possible deal.
This is Where Huntley Wealth Comes In: Cheap Life Insurance for Smokers
Huntley Wealth is a family business that has been insuring people for over a decade.
We pride ourselves in boutique service and invest much of our time educating ourselves about the underwriting policies of the top life insurance companies.
With access to dozens of the best carriers and an army of knowledgable independent agents, you are in the best possible hands.
I’m a husband and Dad to three beautiful girls, so I truly get how important this decision is.
No Matter What Your Circumstances We Can Help
Looking for life insurance for pot smokers – term life insurance for smokers or the cheapest life insurance for smokers?
We’ve gotcha covered my friends.
No matter what your situation, we can help you find a solution.
If you are looking for life insurance for smokers today, simply use the quote form to your right, or call us directly at 877-443-9467 and we will be happy to help you find the coverage you need.
Your Turn
What did you think about our “life insurance for smokers” article? Did you learn something new? Agree or disagree?
Let us know in the comments.