Life Insurance for Smokers: Can I Get Life Insurance as a Smoker?

Smokers can qualify for most of the same policies as non-smokers, but should expect higher premiums. Insurers put applicants into “smoker” or “non-smoker” categories during underwriting, and those labels determine your rates.

How do life insurance companies classify you as a smoker?

• Usage: Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipes, and/or vaping are typically flagged.
• Frequency: Even occasional use can place you in the smoker category.
• Medical exam or labs: Cotinine (a nicotine byproduct) often shows up in testing.
• Self-reporting: Honesty matters. Misrepresentation can void a policy.

Beyond simply labeling applicants as smokers or non-smokers, insurers also place people into detailed underwriting classes. These classes play a big role in determining premiums for life insurance for smokers, since tobacco use is evaluated separately from other health factors.

Underwriting classes

Smoking is such a major factor in life insurance pricing that insurers create separate underwriting classes for these products. These classes group people with similar health risks, and your assigned class directly determines your premiums.

Common risk classifications are:

• Preferred Plus: Best rates, excellent health, no tobacco use.
• Preferred: Very good health, no tobacco use.
• Standard Plus: Average health, no tobacco use.
• Standard: Acceptable health, no tobacco use.
• Preferred Tobacco: Good health overall but a current tobacco user.
• Standard Tobacco: Average health with tobacco use.

Being a smoker doesn’t prevent you from getting life insurance. You can apply for most of the same policies non-smokers do, though premiums are typically higher. Comparing different options can help you find the best life insurance for smokers based on your health, budget, and coverage goals.

Available Life Insurance Types

• Term life insurance: Affordable coverage for a set period, like 10, 20, or 30 years. Term is often chosen by people who want income replacement for their family or coverage that matches a specific need, such as paying off a mortgage or raising kids to adulthood.
• Permanent life insurance: Whole life insurance or universal life insurance policies offer lifetime protection and can build cash value. Premiums are usually higher than term coverage, but these policies let you lock in coverage that lasts your entire life. 
• Final expense insurance: Smaller whole life policies designed to cover funeral or end-of-life costs.
• Simplified issue life insurance: No medical exam, but does include a short health questionnaire. This can be a good fit if you want to skip the exam but are comfortable answering basic health questions.
• Guaranteed issue life insurance: Requires no medical exam and no health questions. It’s often a good option for smokers with significant health concerns who might not qualify for other types of coverage.

Smoking impacts life insurance rates, with smokers typically paying 100% to 200% higher rates than nonsmokers due to increased health risks associated with tobacco use.(1) 

The price for smokers is higher because insurance companies price life insurance based on your life expectancy. Tobacco use has been proven to decrease life expectancy, so insurers charge smokers more to reflect the greater chances of paying a death benefit than for nonsmokers.(3)

How much do life insurance policies cost if I smoke?

Here’s a quick comparison table so you can see the financial impact on premiums for life insurance as a smoker(1):

How Quitting Smoking Can Affect Your Life Insurance

Quitting smoking not only improves your health but can also lower your life insurance premiums. Insurers often review your usage after a period of time, which may allow you to qualify for non-smoker rates.

What to expect if you quit:

• 12 months smoke-free: Many insurers will consider you for non-smoker classification if you’ve avoided smoking for at least a year.
• 24+ months: Some carriers require two years or more before reclassifying.
• Re-application or re-rating: You may need a new medical exam or lab test to confirm your status.
• Premium savings: Your monthly cost can drop significantly once you’re no longer rated as a smoker.

• Smokers can qualify for nearly all the same policies as non-smokers, but life insurance rates for smokers are higher.
• Options include term, permanent, final expense, simplified issue, and guaranteed issue coverage.
• Life insurance for people who smoke is substantially more expensive. Quitting and staying smoke-free for 12–24 months may let you reapply at non-smoker rates.
• To avoid surprises, always answer insurance application questions honestly. Misrepresentation can void a policy.

Ethos works with top insurance companies to provide our clients with many options. So if you’re shopping for life insurance, get started today to see what your options are.