| There are several requirements you must meet | | | | certain smoke related illnesses than |
| when obtaining any kind of insurance. Taking | | | | non-smokers. Smoking has also always been |
| out term life insurance is no exception. For | | | | believed to cause premature death. Ailments |
| the most part, insurance companies want to | | | | such as lung cancer, high blood pressure, |
| make sure you start out healthy before | | | | heart attacks, emphysema, severe asthma, |
| issuing you a policy. Premiums are based on | | | | stroke, and other forms of cancer are all |
| your lifestyle and what your medical history | | | | associated to nicotine use. Current studies |
| is like. The cost of your premium is based on | | | | have also found a connection between heavy |
| your age, gender and even occupation. Tobacco | | | | tobacco use and Alzheimer's disease. |
| use has always been of concern when you are | | | | Certainly one can compare the consistent use |
| applying for term life insurance. | | | | of a known carcinogen to someone who is |
| | | | employed at a job considered to be "hazardous |
| Tobacco use in any form already sets you | | | | duty." Both are subject to higher premiums |
| apart from non-users. Some insurance | | | | due to higher risk for insurance companies to |
| companies do not distinguish between the form | | | | carry you. |
| and frequency of your tobacco use. If you are | | | | |
| a person who smokes an occasional cigar you | | | | Tobacco Use and Low Cost Term Life Insurance |
| are treated the same as a person who smokes | | | | |
| two or three packs of cigarettes per day. | | | | If you are smoker who has tried to obtain |
| Despite this unfair categorization, there are | | | | term life insurance in the past, you have |
| some companies that do make the distinction. | | | | probably been disappointed by the high |
| The key is to find these select insurance | | | | premiums quoted to you. In recent years some |
| companies that individualize their rates. | | | | insurance companies have opted to offer low |
| These select companies base their premiums | | | | cost term life insurance for tobacco users. |
| upon the type of tobacco and frequency of | | | | Smokers or nicotine users are now eligible |
| usage. They make a clear distinction between | | | | for 10, 15, 20 or 30 year term periods at low |
| the use of cigarettes, cigars, chewing | | | | rates. For example, as long as a smoker is in |
| tobacco, pipes, smokeless tobacco, nicotine | | | | otherwise excellent health and is at a |
| gum, marijuana or a nicotine patch to quit | | | | reasonable weight, he or she may obtain |
| your smoking habit. If you smoke marijuana, | | | | $250,000.00 worth of coverage for about $40 |
| you must also disclose that you use drugs on | | | | per month over a 10 year period. |
| your application form. | | | | |
| | | | The best thing to do would be to research out |
| Lifestyle Discrimination? | | | | companies and their policies for tobacco |
| | | | users. By shopping out the different |
| While automatic higher premiums set for | | | | insurance companies, you are sure to find one |
| smokers are seemingly unfair and may even be | | | | that does not penalize you excessively for |
| viewed as lifestyle discrimination, it is | | | | tobacco use. Doing an internet search is the |
| also important to understand the perspective | | | | fastest way to obtain a quote online as many |
| of insurance companies. Generally, smokers | | | | companies are now doing "Insta-quotes" that |
| miss work more often than non-smokers due to | | | | only take minutes. Tobacco users can now |
| respiratory problems. It is believed, | | | | afford to protect their families at much more |
| although not clinically proven, that smoking | | | | affordable rates and doing due diligence in |
| lowers the immune system defenses, therefore | | | | shopping out your quotes will save you money |
| causing smokers to be more susceptible to | | | | in the long run. |