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Life Insurance for Smokers for 2024

Updated
Dana George
Robin Hartill, CFP
By: Dana George
Dana George
Dana George
Writer

Dana George has a BA in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University. For more than 25 years, she has written and reported on business and finance, and she's still passionate about her work. Dana and her husband recently moved to Champaign, Illinois, home of the Fighting Illini. And though she finds the color orange unflattering on most people, she thinks they'll enjoy Champaign tremendously.

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 and  Robin Hartill, CFP
Robin Hartill, CFP
Robin Hartill, CFP
Writer

Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column. She is based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.

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Unless you have more money in the bank than your beneficiaries will ever need, life insurance is an important part of financial planning. But if you smoke, you may wonder whether a company will insure you. The answer is yes, but you'll pay more for a policy than a nonsmoker. Here, we'll outline the best life insurance companies for smokers and tell you what we like (and don't like) about each of them.

After review, here are five companies we consider among the best for providing smokers with insurance coverage.

Logo for Prudential
Best for marijuana smokersPrudential
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line

Not only will Prudential cover cigarette smokers, but the company sometimes offers occasional marijuana smokers a nonsmoking rate (as long they don't smoke cigarettes too). So if you're a medical marijuana smoker or an occasional user, Prudential is unlikely to classify you as high risk.

While you can receive a quote online, you'll need to work with a Prudential agent to purchase a policy. And like most life insurance providers, Prudential will require a medical exam to check for pre-existing conditions unless you qualify for its PruFast Track accelerated underwriting. Once you're through the exam, you'll need to decide which type of life insurance for smokers you want to buy: term, variable, or guaranteed universal life.

Besides having a reputation for great customer service, Prudential has an AM Best rating of A+ for financial strength.

Read our Prudential review

Logo for Ethos
Best for no-exam life insuranceEthos
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line

Ethos Life makes our list of best life insurance for smokers for those who don't want to undergo a life insurance medical exam or need coverage to begin immediately. The company has a 100% online application process, even for smokers and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Ethos offers policy terms ranging from 10 to 30 years, as well as up to $2 million worth of coverage. If you're a smoker in poor health, you can obtain guaranteed-issue life insurance for up to $30,000. Legal & General America, which issues Ethos policies, gets an A+ rating from AM Best for its financial strength.

Read our Ethos review

Logo for Northwestern Mutual
Best for whole life policiesNorthwestern Mutual
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line

Northwestern Mutual doesn't publish its rates online or offer online quotes, but customers report that the company offers competitive term life rates for smokers and people with medical issues. The company also has a number of term life alternatives, including whole life policies with a long history of paying dividends.

If you're hoping to conduct all life insurance business online or via a mobile app, Northwestern Mutual may not be for you. But if you want to experience top-notch customer service, the company is worth considering.

Northwestern Mutual has a superior reputation for financial strength, earning an A++ rating from AM Best. And as a mutual insurance company, Northwestern Mutual is owned by its policyholders, much like credit union members are also owners.

Read our Northwestern Mutual review

Logo for AIG
Best for cigar smokersAIG
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line

American International Group (AIG) also makes our "best for smokers" list. Although the company's no-exam policy options are limited, customers willing to undergo a medical exam have their choice of term and whole life policies.

And if you're a cigar smoker only, premiums may be lower than a cigarette smoker's rates. That's because AIG differentiates between cigarette and occasional cigar smokers. If an applicant smokes less than one cigar a week, AIG won't consider it a factor as long as a few other criteria are met, like a urinalysis that's negative for nicotine metabolites.

AIG states that rates are based on the overall picture of an applicant's health rather than one single factor, making AIG an excellent option for smokers.

Read our AIG review

Can you get life insurance if you smoke?

Yes, you can purchase a life insurance policy if you smoke, but your premium is likely to be significantly more expensive than the rate offered to a nonsmoker. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the life expectancy for a smoker is at least 10 years shorter than that of a nonsmoker. It's all about risk analysis for insurance companies, and insurers factor in the increased risk of premature death as they set premiums.

What happens if you lie to the insurance company about smoking?

When applying for coverage, it's important to be honest about your smoking habits. If the policy you're applying for requires a medical exam, blood and urine tests will indicate nicotine in your system. If you fail to disclose the fact that you smoke, the insurer is likely to deny your application. Lying on your application could also result in the insurer canceling your policy or refusing to pay the death benefit.

How do life insurance companies classify smokers and tobacco users?

Most life insurance companies classify smokers in one of three categories:

  • Preferred smoker: You're an occasional smoker but are in excellent health.
  • Standard smoker: You're a regular smoker who's in good health.
  • Substandard smoker: You're a regular smoker who's in poor health.

Preferred smokers generally pay the lowest premiums, though smokers can almost always expect to pay higher rates than nonsmokers of the same age with similar health.

Comparing smoker vs. nonsmoker life insurance

This table illustrates the average cost of life insurance for both nonsmokers and smokers for a $500,000 with a 20-year term:

Age Nonsmoker rate Smoker rate
40-year-old male $28 $121
45-year-old male $45 $194
50-year-old male $69 $293
Data source: Quotacy

The earlier you purchase life insurance, the lower the premium will be.

Does quitting smoking impact life insurance rates?

Many insurers will allow you to qualify for nonsmoker rates once you've been tobacco-free for one or two years, through a process called re-entering. You'll need to provide the company with proof that you've been a nonsmoker for a year or more. One way to do that is to ask your family physician to write a note. You'll also probably need to undergo another life insurance medical exam.

If you believe there's a chance you'll give up tobacco, make it a point to choose an insurance company that allows policyholders to re-enter.

Best life insurance policy options for smokers

For smokers, here are several hallmarks of a great life insurance policy:

Offers the level of coverage you need at a price you can afford

As with any financial product, it pays to shop around. You're looking for coverage that's both comprehensive and affordable. Rates will vary by company.

Provides you with the opportunity to re-enter

If you don't plan to smoke forever, the best life insurance policy for you is one that allows policyholders to re-enter after giving up tobacco products.

Can be converted

Let's say what you can afford today is term life insurance, but you really like the features of a more expensive whole life policy. Even if you're not sure you'll ever purchase whole life insurance, the best move is to leave the option open.

Life insurance is a remarkable financial tool, available to all kinds of people, including those who are healthy, those with pre-existing conditions, and smokers. The trick is to check highly rated companies like those who make our "best of" lists.

The Picks
Offer Best For Next Steps
Graphic of Prudential
Prudential
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Great For: Best for marijuana smokers
Graphic of Banner Life Insurance
Banner Life Insurance
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
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Great For: Best for affordable premiums
Graphic of Ethos
Ethos
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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Great For: Best for no-exam life insurance
Graphic of Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
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Great For: Best for whole life policies
Graphic of AIG
AIG
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Great For: Best for cigar smokers

FAQs

  • It depends on whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or marijuana. Some insurers, like AIG, may be best for a person who smokes a few cigars each year. Others, like Prudential, are relatively forgiving of medical cannabis users and occasional marijuana smokers.

  • While what qualifies as a smoker varies by the insurance company, you may be rated as a smoker if you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or marijuana. The same is true if you vape tobacco or marijuana, or chew tobacco -- even occasionally. You may also be considered a smoker if you use nicotine patches or gum.

  • Yes, most life insurance companies consider vaping the same as smoking cigarettes. Though you can qualify for life insurance if you use e-cigarettes, you’ll pay substantially higher rates.

  • Life insurance is nearly always available to smokers, although premiums are more expensive for smokers than nonsmokers. Statistics indicate that smokers are likely to die at a younger age than nonsmokers, and insurance companies factor that statistic into premiums.

  • If the policy for which you apply requires a medical exam, both blood and urine tests show whether there is nicotine in your system. If you lie about smoking, your application will be denied.

  • You typically don’t want to delay buying life insurance because doing so would leave your loved ones without financial protection. Also, your rates increase as you get older. If you’re trying to quit smoking, look for a policy that allows you to re-enter. You could also buy a term life policy, then cancel it after you quit and qualify for lower nonsmoker rates.