Several factors including age are evaluated when determining your eligibility for life insurance. The more risk factors that apply, the more difficult or more expensive it becomes to qualify for a policy. However, high risk is usually not a total bar to life insurance. You may have fewer options for coverage and you may have to pay higher premiums.
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Life insurance for smokers: What you need to know
Written by: New York Life Editorial Team
Reviewed by: New York Life Compliance Team
Updated: August 24, 2026
Smoking or using other tobacco products doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from life insurance, but it can raise costs and limit options. Knowing how insurance companies consider smoking can help you choose the coverage that best fits your needs.
Key takeaways
- Insurers view smoking as a significant health risk.
- Smokers generally pay higher premiums and may need to apply for specialized policies.
- Misrepresenting your smoking history can lead to policy cancelation or a reduced/denied death benefit.
Can smokers get life insurance?
Yes, smokers may be able to get life insurance. The catch is that insurers see tobacco use as a higher health risk, so premiums are typically higher than they are for non-smokers, and coverage options may be more limited. However, smoking is only one piece of the puzzle. If you have other health risks such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or a history of heart or lung issues, these factors are also included as part of the overall underwriting decision that is made.
How smoking affects life insurance premiums
When you apply for life insurance, the insurance company takes a close look at your overall health and other risk factors to determine if they will offer you a policy, and if they do at what premium. In general, the lower the risk, the less you pay. Because smoking is a known health risk, insurance companies typically charge smokers significantly more than non-smokers.
How life insurance underwriting works for smokers
Insurance underwriting is all about accessing risk. The insurance application usually includes questions about whether you use tobacco, and if so, what kind and how often. Many providers also require a medical exam where a saliva or urine sample is collected to test for nicotine. Depending on the results, the underwriters classify you as either a smoker or non-smoker.
What qualifies as a smoker for life insurance?
For life insurance purposes, the term smoker usually means more than just someone who smokes cigarettes. In most cases, you may be classified as a smoker if you’ve used any of the following within the last 12 months:
- Cigarettes
- Hookah
- Chewing tobacco
- Vaping and e-cigarettes
- Cigars
- Pipes
- Nicotine patches or gum
Do occasional or social smokers count as smokers?
Occasional or social smoking may cause insurance companies to classify you as a smoker. The use of nicotine replacement products such as gum or patches may also be seen as a risk factor. Because every insurance company evaluates tobacco use differently, it’s best to be up-front about any smoking or tobacco use—even if it’s just once in a while.
Importance of full disclosure during application
When applying for life insurance, it’s important to be up-front about any activities—including smoking—that can affect your health. Keeping this information quiet could lead to a cancelation of your policy, or reduction in or refusal to pay the death benefit.
Comparing life insurance options for smokers
As with any purchase, it’s a good idea to shop around for insurance providers and policies. In addition to price, what the policy actually covers should also be considered. The following are examples of insurance policies available to smokers:
- Term life insurance offers fixed premiums for a set time. The usual duration of a term life insurance policy is between 10 to 30 years.
- Whole life insurance provides coverage for your entire life as long as timely premium payment are made. In addition to the death benefit, whole life insurance accumulates cash value that you can borrow against.
- Guaranteed-issue life insurance allows you to forgo the health-related questions that are usually part of a life insurance application. This type of no-exam life insurance generally provides less coverage than other policies and comes with higher premiums. However, it can make life insurance attainable for someone with medical challenges that might otherwise disqualify them.
- Life insurance is typically used to cover funeral expenses but can be used by beneficiaries for any purpose. Final expense insurance has fewer qualification requirements than other types of insurance.
Term life vs. whole life insurance for smokers
When comparing life insurance as a smoker, one of the biggest considerations is term life insurance vs. whole life insurance. In many cases, term life insurance is the more cost-effective option because it provides coverage for a set period of time and does not accumulate a cash value. And if you are planning to quit smoking but want to get coverage in place now, a term life insurance policy with a conversion option can allow you to switch to a whole life insurance policy and potentially qualify for a better non-smoker rate once you meet the insurer’s requirements. An insurance professional can help you choose the coverage that’s best for you.
Even if you plan to quit soon, it may still make sense to put coverage in place now. Insurance providers often require you to be tobacco-free for a certain amount of time before you can apply for non-smoker rates. Securing coverage sooner than later is often advantageous because coverage tends to become more expensive as you get older. You may also discover a smoking-related illness that may further impact your risk assessment.
How quitting smoking can impact your life insurance rates
Quitting smoking can lead to lower life insurance rates. Insurance providers may require you to be tobacco-free for a period of time before they consider you a non-smoker. Quitting smoking can also have other health benefits, like lowering blood pressure for example, that may positively affect your ability to get lower premiums.
What happens if you start or quit smoking after buying life insurance?
While there is no obligation to report changes in your smoking status, most life insurance policies have a two-year contestability period. After you pass away, the insurer can review your policy during the contestability period, and if they find evidence that they were misled about your smoking status, they can reduce the death benefit payout or even deny it altogether.
If you quit smoking after your policy is in place, that’s a great step toward improving your overall health. After meeting certain requirements, you may be able to ask your insurance company to reclassify you as a non-smoker and request a lower rate.
Although you may pay more for life insurance as a smoker, being honest about tobacco use is essential. By comparing policies, and weighing your options, you can find coverage that fits your budget and protects those who count on you most.
Life insurance for smokers
Yes, in addition to asking questions about tobacco use on the application, most insurance companies also require a medical exam, where a saliva or urine sample is collected to test for nicotine.
Nicotine can stay detectable anywhere from several days to several weeks depending on the extent of your nicotine use and on the type of screening test used.
The required time frame to receive smoke-free status varies among insurance providers.
It’s rare that smoking alone will disqualify you from purchasing life insurance, but when combined with age and other risk factors including health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, qualifying for coverage can become significantly more difficult.
Quitting smoking is an important step in improving overall health and for qualifying for better life insurance rates. However, the longer you wait to apply, age and other health factors can put you in a higher risk category, which will also affect your policy rates. Insurance companies offer various types of insurance that can make it easier to qualify as a smoker. Some of the options allow you to request lower rates once you meet the requirements for non-smoker status.
