Smoking is one of the most important topics to understand when applying for life insurance. Whether you smoke cigarettes, cigars, vape, or use marijuana, insurance companies treat different types of smokers differently. This includes heavy daily smokers, occasional smokers, and social smokers. Understanding the financial impact of smoking on your premiums is crucial because smokers often pay significantly higher rates. This article sheds light on how smoking influences eligibility, costs, and policies for life insurance.
Yes, you can get life insurance (Term Life Insurance, Whole Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance) if you smoke, but coverage and premiums will differ. Insurance companies typically classify applicants as smokers if they have used tobacco or nicotine products in the past 12 months.
Even occasional smoking can affect rates, so it’s important to disclose your habits honestly. Some carriers may still approve coverage for light or social smokers but at higher rates. Examples include term insurance plans where smokers may pay up to three times the premiums of non-smokers.
Smoking significantly affects life insurance premiums and coverage. Smokers are seen as higher risk due to health impacts such as lung disease or cardiovascular problems. This risk translates into higher premiums, stricter underwriting, and sometimes exclusions. How does smoking affect life insurance? Even the type of product matters: term life insurance premiums rise more sharply for smokers than whole or permanent life policies. For example, a 40-year-old smoker might pay double or triple compared to a non-smoker for a 20-year term policy.
Life insurance is more expensive for smokers, typically about 150% to 200% higher than for non-smokers. Most Canadian insurers charge smokers roughly 1.5x to 2x the premiums for the same coverage. The exact increase depends on factors like age, type of insurance, and smoking frequency.
“Most life insurers group cigarettes, nicotine vaping, pipes, and regular cigar use together. Therefore, any nicotine use in the last 12 months usually means smoker rates, often at least 50–100% higher than non-smoker costs. Marijuana is treated more flexibly. Light cannabis use without any tobacco or nicotine can still qualify for non-smoker pricing with many Canadian carriers, while heavier or medical use is underwritten based on frequency and the underlying condition.”
For example, a 35-year-old smoker might pay $60–$80 per month for a term 20 life insurance policy of $500,000 coverage that costs $20–$30 for a non-smoker.
Smokers and non-smokers are priced differently for life insurance due to increased health risks. Non-smokers enjoy lower premiums and more flexibility in policy options. Smoker classifications also affect term versus permanent policies differently, with term life usually being more heavily impacted. Knowing the difference helps applicants plan financially. For example, a permanent life policy might see premiums about 50 % higher for a smoker, whereas a term policy could be roughly 1.5x to 2x the cost of a non-smoker’s policy.
Here is a comparison of term life insurance rates for a $500,000 Term 20 policy. It is clear that smoker rates are significantly higher than non-smoker rates, typically 1.5 to 2 times higher.
| Non-Smoker | Smoker (Cigarettes within 12 months) | Difference | |
| Male, 35 years old | $30/month | $79 / month | 163%↑ |
| Female, 35 years old | $22/month | $61 / month | 177%↑ |
| Male, 50 years old | $120/month | $328/month | 173%↑ |
| Female, 50 years old | $81/month | $210 / month | 159%↑ |
Note: All applicants have a regular state of health
Insurance companies check for smoking through self-disclosure, medical questionnaires, and tests such as cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) in blood, urine or saliva. Applicants must be honest because discrepancies can affect claims. How does life insurance know if you smoke? Even small traces can classify someone as a smoker. For example, occasional cigar smokers may still fall under the smoker category if tests detect nicotine.
If you start smoking after getting life insurance, your current policy usually remains valid, but future applications or additional coverage may be affected. Life insurance start smoking after obtaining coverage does not retroactively change premiums, but failing to disclose habits on a new application could lead to claim disputes. Example: someone adding a rider after starting to smoke must disclose it to avoid issues.
“Smoking has a huge impact on what rates you will pay for insurance, and typically, when you are classified as a smoker, you will be paying roughly double the premiums compared to someone classified as a non-smoker. To qualify for non-smoker rates, you need to have not smoked any nicotine products within the past 12 months; this includes marijuana and vaping products that contain nicotine.”
After quitting, you may qualify for non-smoker rates, but insurers typically require a 12-month smoke-free period. An additional requirement is the absence of any significant health changes—for example, not quitting smoking and then being diagnosed with lung cancer. Life insurance quit smoking programs allow former smokers to reduce premiums gradually. Example: a 45-year-old who quit a year ago may see rates drop by 30–50% compared to when they were classified as a smoker.
Vaping is often treated as smoking by insurers because nicotine is present. Nicotine-based e-cigarettes can place applicants in the smoker category, affecting premiums. Example: a daily vaper may face the same rates as a traditional smoker, while non-nicotine vapers may still qualify for non-smoker rates.
Brent Swatuk, Regional Vice President for Desjardins Insurance shares his insights:
“Treatment of vaping is not fully uniform across carriers. Most insurers classify vaping as smoker status, regardless of whether the product contains nicotine. Vaping can lead to wet lung and cause complications, which is one reason carriers often treat it similarly to traditional tobacco use.That said, there are a few carriers that may consider applicants for non-smoker rates if the vaping products are confirmed to be nicotine-free, often supported by a negative cotinine test and clear disclosure of usage. Guidelines vary and can change, so it’s always important to confirm the specific underwriting position at the time of application.”
Marijuana use is increasingly treated separately. Occasional recreational use may not classify someone as a smoker, but heavy or medicinal use could. Example: insurers like Manulife may treat moderate marijuana users as non-smokers, but policies vary widely.
Premiums for marijuana users are often determined based on the amount of marijuana consumed. Each application is assessed individually, but in general, an average user — for example, someone who consumes about two joints per week — can often qualify for standard term life insurance or other products (such as whole life or universal life) at non-smoker rates.
Excessive marijuana use, however, is typically viewed as higher risk. If usage exceeds about two joints per week, most carriers will still consider the applicant a non-smoker, but they may apply a rating — an additional premium — to account for the increased risk. Each insurer defines “excessive use” differently, so underwriting decisions and rates can vary across companies.
| Marijuana consumption | Other smoking habits | You will be treated as … |
| Twice a week or less | Do not use nicotine or tobacco | → Non-Smoker |
| Twice a week or less | Use nicotine or tobacco (e.g. cigarettes) | → Smoker |
| More than twice a week | Do not use nicotine or tobacco | → Non-smoker with increased rates (likely lower than standard smoker rates) |
Here is a detailed article on Life Insurance and Marijuana.
Cigar smokers are often treated similarly to cigarette smokers. Frequency matters: daily cigar smokers face higher premiums, while social cigar smokers may receive lighter adjustments. Example: a person who smokes a cigar once a week may still be classified as a smoker for underwriting purposes.
Brent Swatuk, Regional Vice President for Desjardins Insurance shares his insights:
“For most carriers, occasional use of large or fine cigars is permitted at non-smoker rates, typically up to one per month, provided the applicant has a negative cotinine test. Canada Life is more flexible, allowing up to one large cigar per week with a negative cotinine result. Desjardins currently allows up to 24 cigars per year (without a strict monthly cap), again subject to a negative cotinine test. As always, underwriting definitions can evolve, so confirming the current guideline at time of application is important.
| Most Life Insurance companies | Canada Life | Desjardins Insurance |
| 1 large or fine cigar per month is fine | 1 large cigar per week is fine | 24 cigars per year are fine |
In terms of product definition, “large cigars” generally refer to premium or fine tobacco cigars such as those from brands like Cohiba or Rocky Patel. The key distinction is that these are traditional hand-rolled, premium cigars. This category does not include cigarillos (e.g., Colts) or small machine-made cigars with fillers or additives. As long as the cigar meets the insurer’s definition of a fine cigar and cotinine testing is negative, occasional use may still qualify for non-smoker rates under the carriers noted above.”
Social smokers must also disclose their habits. Even irregular smoking can classify an applicant as a smoker, impacting premiums. Example: someone who smokes only at parties or events may still face higher rates than a non-smoker.
Former smokers can qualify for non-smoker rates after a defined smoke-free period, often 12 months. Example: a 50-year-old who quit two years ago may receive rates comparable to a lifelong non-smoker. Insurers verify with medical tests and questionnaires.
Yes, smoking can affect claims if it is not accurately disclosed. Failure to report smoking habits may result in denied claims or reduced payouts. Example: an applicant who smoked at the time of application but didn’t disclose it could face claim issues. Honest reporting ensures coverage and avoids disputes.
“When it comes to life insurance, “smoker” doesn’t just mean cigarettes — vaping, cigars, chewing tobacco, and other nicotine products can all put you in that category. In many cases, even vaping without nicotine is still treated as smoker status because of the way insurers view inhaled substances and long-term health risks. Cannabis rules have relaxed over the years and can vary from company to company, but generally, the quantity and frequency of use will determine whether you’re classified as a smoker or non-smoker. The good news is that a “smoker” label doesn’t have to be permanent. If you’ve abstained from smoking products for 12 consecutive months, you can usually apply to have the smoker classification removed and potentially qualify for non-smoker rates.”
We hope these insights help clarify how smoking can impact life insurance and why understanding your habits matters. While some reasons for coverage are essential, driven by financial dependency and obligations, others are optional and relate to planning, optimization, and protecting your loved ones. Every situation is unique, especially when smoking habits vary from occasional to heavy use. If you would like to discuss your personal circumstances and life insurance needs, you are very welcome to connect with us – just complete a quote on this page. Our team includes experienced life insurance brokers and specialists who work with more insurers than most other brokerages in Canada, allowing us to help find solutions tailored to your health profile, smoking status, and financial goals.
