Readers Question?
Can I get Low Term Life Insurance rates if I am a smoker ?
Tom
Austin, Texas
Great Question.
All term life insurance companies but a select few will offer smoker rates regardless if you smoke cigarettes, cigars, chew tobacco, or nicorette gum etc. The few term life insurance companies that will offer non-smoker rates to alternate tobacco users other than cigarettes can save you 50%-100% in cost. Some are aggressive to the extent where Preferred Plus and Preferred non-smoker rates are available as long as you medically qualify. The life insurance industry views your health habits as a key factor in determining your cardiovascular risk.
Apart from quitting (which is quite obvious), you have to make sure you’re not overweight. That will make your rate unbearably high. Therefore, do your utmost to get down to the right weight for your height, age and sex.
Something that is important to stop is smoking. Smoking is something that is found mostly in the physical itself. Insurance companies do recognize “smokers” and “non-smokers”, and they understand there are people out there who have quit. By quitting smoking, you can request another physical to show the company that you have indeed stopped smoking. By quitting smoking, your risk is lowered, and your term life insurance rates will easily improve.