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Who is Considered a Smoker for Insurance?
“Will my nicotine patch increase my life insurance rate? How about those ‘gummies’?” I’ll show you how to avoid smoker “penalties” and help you lower your life insurance premiums by 15 to 40% or even more, if your usage is minimal!
Hi! I’m Daniel “The LifeGuy” Dragan. As a life insurance broker with 20+ years in the insurance industry, I’ve learned to navigate through various insurance companies rules and conditions, to help my clients save their hard earned money on life insurance premiums.
How insurance companies decide if you’re a smoker or a non-smoker?
Tobacco, nicotine (and now THC) use can impact how much you pay for life insurance coverage. But how do insurance companies make this determination? Let’s dive in.
What qualifies as smoking?
First things first, let’s define what it means to be a smoker in the eyes of an insurance company. Obviously, if you’re a pack-a-day smoker, that’s an easy call. But what if you only smoke occasionally when you’re out with friends? What about e-cigarettes or other vaping products? Generally speaking, insurance companies consider anyone who has used tobacco or nicotine products in the last 12 months to be a smoker. Usually, that includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and any nicotine replacement products like gum or patches – although some companies consider an occasional cigar or non-inhaling nicotine method as non-smoker.
Why does smoking impact your premiums?
Now that we know what counts as smoking, let’s talk about why it matters to insurance companies. Simply put, smoking is a known health risk. It increases your chances of developing a whole host of health problems, from cancer to heart disease. And if you’re a smoker, you’re statistically more likely to die earlier than a non-smoker (don’t frown at me, look at the statistics!). From an insurance company’s perspective, that means you’re a higher risk to insure. And when you’re a higher risk, you’re going to pay more for coverage with some companies (ask me which companies DO NOT overcharge for being a smoker!).
How do insurance companies determine your smoking status?
So how do insurance companies figure out if you’re a smoker or a non-smoker? There are a few different ways they can go about it. First and foremost, they’ll ask you. When you apply for life insurance, you’ll be asked a series of health questions, including whether you’ve used tobacco products in the last 12 months. It’s important to answer these questions truthfully, because lying about your smoking status or any of your health history could void your policy. In addition to asking questions, some (not all!) insurance companies may also require a medical exam (they cover the cost for that!). During the exam, a healthcare professional will take your blood pressure, collect blood and urine samples, and ask about your medical history. They may also do a nicotine test, which can detect the presence of nicotine in your system even if you haven’t smoked for a few days. They may also check any available medical records; These medical records are most likely available digitally from medical records databases like the Medical Information Bureau (MIB), Milliman IntelliScript, and Ingenix MedPoint. How do your medical records end up in these databases? If you ever filed an insurance claim or used insurance benefits, it’s likely those records were reported to one of the medical records agencies. You can always request a copy of your medical records from these agencies at any time. Due to HIPAA regulations, for your protection, nobody else can access these records besides you, your doctors and insurance companies you ask for coverage.
What if you quit smoking?
If you’re a smoker, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to lower your life insurance premiums. The good news is that if you quit smoking, you can save a lot of money on your policy. Most insurance companies will consider you a non-smoker if you’ve been tobacco-free for at least 12 months. That means if you quit smoking and stay smoke-free for a year, you could see a significant reduction in your premiums. Simply ask your agent or broker to quote you a non-smoker rate and help you lower your premiums. And if you’re in the process of quitting, it’s worth noting that some insurance companies will consider you a non-smoker if you use nicotine replacement products like gum or patches.
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Why LifeGuy Financial?
We’re on YOUR side! We owe you a fiduciary duty to compare and find the best plans for your needs and budget.
Our founder, Daniel “LifeGuy” Dragan together with our team of independent licensed brokers have helped thousands of families with financial peace of mind and saving money on insurance premiums, for over two decades. Our network of agents operates independently, covering all 50 US states, and comparing ALL insurance companies in the US. With our LifeGuy independent agents and brokers you can rest assured that you don’t overpay for your insurance needs. Ask for a free, no obligation quote today and one of our experienced brokers will be happy to assist with your family’s protection needs.
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