Is Health Insurance Expensive for Smokers?

Smoking has a negative impact on the health of the smoker and it will be reflected in the amount that is paid for insurance. The average amount that it will raise your insurance premium is around 20%. This isn’t counting the increased rates that may come from having high blood pressure which is linked to smoking in many cases. In some cases smoking can even limit the amount of coverage that you are able to get.

Many people may say to themselves that they will just tell their insurer that they don’t smoke. Truth is that insurance agencies know that 90% of smokers will lie about the fact that they do smoke. They are prepared and in your policy you will find that if they discover that you lied on your application they retain the right to cancel your policy. This means that if you have a health problem that is related to smoking and it can be linked by the medical professional you could be dropped. In some cases the insurance agency may just adjust your rated to reflect the fact that you smoke. If this happens, consider yourself lucky.

Keep in mind that all insurance companies are different. If you are a smoker but only smoke a couple times a day or on the weekends your rate may not go up as much. Also consider that some companies will still give you a good rate if you are a smoker in good health with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. Honestly most people who smoke don’t even realize that they are paying higher rates because it is what they are used to. If you are a smoker, be sure to shop around for your insurance and maybe be able to get a better rate.