Category: Life Insurance | Reading Time: 4 minutes
If you smoke, you’ll already know it’s not great for your health. But you might not realise just how much it affects your life insurance costs. Smokers typically pay significantly more for cover—sometimes double what non-smokers pay.
Here’s what you need to know about smoking and life insurance.
Why do smokers pay more?
Insurance is all about risk. Insurers use statistics to work out how likely they are to pay a claim, and the numbers around smoking are stark. According to NHS data, smoking is the UK’s single greatest cause of preventable death, responsible for around 76,000 deaths annually.
Smokers face significantly higher risks of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory conditions. For insurers, this translates to a higher probability of having to pay out. To balance this risk, they charge higher premiums.
How much more will you pay?
Research suggests smokers pay anywhere from 50% to 100% more for life insurance compared to non-smokers of the same age and health profile. The exact difference depends on several factors including how much you smoke, what you smoke, and how old you are.
For example, a 35-year-old non-smoker might pay around £11 per month for £150,000 of cover over 25 years. The same person as a smoker could pay £21 per month—that’s an extra £120 per year, or £3,000 over the policy term.
What counts as smoking?
Insurers define smoking broadly. You’re typically classified as a smoker if you’ve used any of the following in the past 12 months:
• Cigarettes, cigars, or pipes
• E-cigarettes or vapes (even nicotine-free ones)
• Nicotine replacement products like patches or gum
• Shisha or hookah pipes
Even occasional smoking counts. If you only have a cigarette on nights out, you’ll still be classified—and charged—as a smoker.
The vaping question
Many people assume vaping is treated differently from smoking, but most insurers currently class them the same way. The long-term health effects of vaping aren’t yet fully understood, so insurers take a cautious approach.
This may change as more research becomes available, but for now, if you vape, expect to pay smoker rates.
What if you quit?
Here’s the good news: if you stop smoking, your premiums can drop significantly. Most insurers will reclassify you as a non-smoker after you’ve been completely nicotine-free for 12 months.
If you already have a policy, quitting won’t automatically reduce your existing premiums. However, you can contact your insurer after 12 months to request a review, or take out a new policy at non-smoker rates. Your adviser can help you work out which option makes more financial sense.
Never lie about smoking
It might be tempting to say you don’t smoke to save money on premiums, but this is a serious mistake. If your insurer discovers you’ve lied, they can refuse to pay out your claim entirely.
When a claim is made, insurers can request medical records. If these show evidence of smoking when you declared you were a non-smoker, your family could be left with nothing—despite years of paying premiums.
Always be honest on your application. The higher premiums are there for a reason, and your policy will be valid when your family needs it most.
At Cover Direct, we work with insurers who offer competitive rates for smokers. We’ll search the whole market to find you the best deal and explain your options clearly. Get in touch today for a no-obligation quote.
FAQs
Q1: Does it matter how much I smoke?
A: Most insurers classify you as either a smoker or non-smoker without distinguishing between light and heavy smoking. However, some may ask detailed questions about frequency and may offer slightly better rates for very light smokers. Even one cigarette in the past 12 months typically means you’re classed as a smoker.
Q2: Can I get life insurance if I smoke cannabis?
A: Yes, but you must declare it on your application. Cannabis use is treated as recreational drug use rather than tobacco smoking, but it will affect your premiums and you may face additional medical screening. Non-disclosure of drug use can invalidate your policy entirely, so always be honest about all substances you use.
Q3: What if I start smoking after taking out my policy?
A: If you take up smoking after your policy starts, your premiums won’t increase and your cover remains valid. However, check your policy terms—some insurers require you to notify them of lifestyle changes. The key point is that you must be truthful at the time of application; changes afterwards don’t affect an existing policy.
