One of the first questions asked by insurance agents when you apply for life insurance is whether you are a smoker. Does being a smoker affect your life insurance?
Read on to find out.
Insurance companies determine your life insurance premium based on your smoking habit
When you apply for life insurance, insurance companies will assess your health risks and calculate the coverage that you are eligible for. This ensures that the premium or amount of payment they charge you reflects the level of your health risks.
In determining your premium, insurance companies consider a few factors including your age, occupation and smoking habit. You are required to declare this information when applying for your insurance.
Why does being a smoker affect your life insurance?
Smoking puts you at a higher risk of getting smoking-related illnesses. Given your high risk, insurance companies will charge you a higher premium as they need to bear a higher risk (think of the high medical cost of treating serious illnesses.) In other words, if you are a smoker, insurance companies consider you have a higher likelihood of needing medical care, which explains the higher premium that you have to pay.
Say that person A is a heavy smoker who lights up 17 cigarettes a day, she has a higher risk of getting serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, and diabetes. Because of her smoking habit, she has to pay, for example, RM50 more than person B who is a non-smoker.
The price difference may not be much for you but bear in mind that insurance companies may not provide coverage for certain diseases contributed by smoking. So other than paying more for your insurance, you may also have to fork out money for medical treatment that is not covered by your insurance. And that is going to make a huge hole in your wallet!
Do you need to tell your insurance company that you smoke?
Yes, you must.
Honesty is the best policy! It is crucial that you be honest and declare that you are a smoker even if you smoke casually or occasionally.
What will happen if you lie to your insurance company?
Your insurance company may not be able to immediately find out that you lie about not smoking. But if you ever have to make an insurance claim, be prepared! Your insurance company will certainly look into your health report. And if they detect that you lied about it, you may not get a cent out of your insurance! This also applies to medical conditions that you hide or fail to declare when you apply for your insurance.
Insurance companies generally do not differentiate variations of tobacco products. So whether it is a cigarette, cigar, nicotine patch, pipe, electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vape, do declare if you smoke any tobacco products.
Will you get a lower insurance premium after you quit smoking?
Depending on insurance companies, you may be eligible to get a non-smoker premium if you have quit smoking for at least 12 months. However, you will have to prove that you are a non-smoker:
- Sign a non-smoking declaration stating that you have not been smoking for the last 12 months
- Have a urine test to prove there is no trace of nicotine in your body
- Confirm that there have not been any significant negative changes to your health
The last requirement may be tough to prove, particularly as insurance companies would like to know what made you give up on smoking. Say that it is because of a lung disease that you have just developed, it is unlikely that they would change your category from a smoker to a non-smoker because of your current health condition.
Enjoy a lower insurance premium when you quit smoking
Save more on your insurance premium when you are tobacco-free! For more savings, customize your insurance policy to fit your needs and budget at Bjak: https://bjak.com/life/en/
(Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MoneySuperMarket, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada)
