Written by Cory Levine, Life Insurance Expert ✅
Founder of The Life Insurance Professionals · Licensed since 2018 · Boca Raton, FL, serving families nationwide
Editorial disclosure
This article was written by Cory Levine, a licensed independent life insurance agent, for general education. It is not financial, tax or legal advice. Cory may earn a commission if you buy a policy through him, and that never changes what he recommends. Rates, benefits and availability vary by company, state and underwriting.
Helping families since 2018. Content follows our editorial standards to protect consumers.
View more about Cory ▾
Cory Levine is an independent life insurance agent in Boca Raton, Florida, serving families nationwide. After losing his wife in 2017 and raising his children on his own, he helps families compare term life with living benefits, indexed universal life, permanent coverage and annuities, with honesty and no pressure. Read Cory’s full bio
Yes. You can get life insurance if you smoke or vape, but you’ll usually pay tobacco rates, which can cost two to three times more than standard non-tobacco rates. The good news: quitting can bring your price down, often after about 12 months, and the right company can make a real difference.
Term Life Quote
See your rate in 2 minutes
Step 1 of 4
Or call 561-542-8610
You’re not alone. The CDC reports that in 2022, 49.2 million U.S. adults, nearly 1 in 5, used a tobacco product. Insurance companies price smokers every day. The key is knowing how they do it.
See your own rate in about 2 minutes →
Real rates: smoker vs. non-smoker
Here are real monthly prices for $500,000 of 20-year term for a Florida resident, pulled from a top-rated company’s quote system on October 16, 2026:
| Age | Best non-tobacco | Standard non-tobacco | Tobacco | Extra cost per year vs. standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man, 30 | $25.96 | $46.20 | $116.16 | $839.52 |
| Man, 40 | $38.72 | $71.72 | $204.16 | $1,589.28 |
| Man, 50 | $88.88 | $165.88 | $486.64 | $3,849.12 |
| Woman, 30 | $21.56 | $38.28 | $86.24 | $575.52 |
| Woman, 40 | $32.12 | $58.52 | $158.40 | $1,198.56 |
| Woman, 50 | $67.76 | $118.36 | $358.16 | $2,877.60 |
Over a 20-year term, a 40-year-old man paying tobacco rates would pay about $31,786 more than at standard non-tobacco rates. That’s the real cost of smoking on your life insurance alone.
Some companies also offer a better tobacco class for healthy smokers. At this company, a healthy 40-year-old man could pay $149.16 a month in its preferred tobacco class instead of $204.16. That’s one reason comparing companies matters.
What counts as tobacco?
Most life insurance companies treat any nicotine use as tobacco, including:
- Cigarettes
- Vaping and e-cigarettes
- Cigars and pipes
- Chewing tobacco and dip
- Nicotine gum, patches, lozenges and pouches
Some companies are more lenient with an occasional cigar, for example a few a year, as long as your nicotine test is negative. Rules vary a lot here, so this is a big reason to shop with an independent agent.
Yes, even nicotine gum and patches can count, because the test can’t tell where the nicotine came from.
How do they know if I smoke?
Most applications ask directly about tobacco and nicotine use. If you take a medical exam, the lab usually tests for cotinine, a substance your body makes when it processes nicotine. Your medical and prescription records are also reviewed.
Never hide tobacco use. If a company later finds out you misstated it, it can change your coverage or contest a claim, and that’s the last thing your family needs.
How quitting lowers your rate
- Most companies want at least 12 months nicotine-free for non-tobacco rates.
- Some companies may accept less time, and others want longer for their very best classes.
- Already have a policy? Many companies let you ask for a re-rate after you’ve been nicotine-free long enough. Ask before you buy whether yours does.
My honest advice: if you’re quitting, don’t wait a year with no coverage. Buy coverage now, then ask for a better rate once you qualify. Your family is protected the whole time.
Why this matters to me
I lost my wife in 2017 and have raised my children on my own since. I know exactly what it means when a family loses a parent and a paycheck. Smoking shouldn’t be the reason your family goes unprotected. Paying tobacco rates is still far better than having no coverage at all.
Many policies also include living benefits, which may let you use part of your coverage early for a qualifying serious illness, like a heart attack, stroke or cancer.
Find out which rate you’d likely qualify for, privately.
Take my 5-minute health check. I review it personally and tell you honestly where you stand before you apply anywhere. Nothing is shared without your OK.
Start my private health check → · See my rate in 2 minutes →
Frequently asked questions
Does vaping count as smoking for life insurance?
At most companies, yes. Vaping and e-cigarettes contain nicotine, so they’re usually priced at tobacco rates.
Does marijuana count as tobacco?
It depends on the company. Some treat occasional marijuana use as non-tobacco, while others price it differently. Tell me how and how often you use it, and I’ll point you to the right company.
Can I get non-smoker rates if I smoke an occasional cigar?
Sometimes. Some companies allow a limited number of cigars per year at non-tobacco rates if your nicotine test is negative. Others don’t.
What if I lie about smoking?
Don’t. A misstatement can lead the company to change your coverage or contest a claim. Honest tobacco rates are always better than coverage your family can’t count on.
How much more do smokers pay in their 40s or 50s?
A lot more as you age. See the full tables in your 40s, your 50s and your 60s.
Also managing anxiety, weight, blood pressure or sleep apnea? Read Can I get life insurance with anxiety or depression?, Can I get life insurance if I’m overweight?, Can I get life insurance with high blood pressure? and Can I get life insurance with sleep apnea?
Get protected now, and pay less later
Tell me about your tobacco use honestly and privately, and I’ll find the company that treats it best. No pressure, no dozen applications.
📅 Schedule a free, no-obligation call with Cory →
Prefer to talk now? Call 561-542-8610.
Sample rates are monthly premiums from one top-rated insurance company’s term quote system for a Florida resident, pulled October 16, 2026, for illustration only. “Extra cost per year” compares tobacco rates to standard non-tobacco rates. Your actual rate depends on the company, your state, your age, your health, your tobacco use and full underwriting. Tobacco definitions and re-rate rules vary by company and policy. This article is for general education and isn’t medical, financial, legal or tax advice.
The Life Insurance Professionals · Cory Levine · Life insurance in Boca Raton, FL, serving families nationwide
Free, no-pressure review
Is your family protected if something happens to you?
I’m Cory Levine, an independent agent and a widower raising my children. I know what the right policy means to a family. I compare top-rated companies, not just one, to find you honest options: coverage that protects your family, living benefits you can use while you’re alive, and income you can’t outlive.
See my rate in 2 minutes →Take the private health check → · Book a free 15-minute call →
Or call or text (561) 542-8610
About Cory Levine
Cory Levine is an independent life insurance agent and founder of The Life Insurance Professionals, based in Boca Raton, Florida and serving families nationwide. Licensed since 2018, he has helped hundreds of families protect what matters most. After losing his wife in 2017 and raising his children on his own, he knows firsthand what the right coverage means to a family. Guided by his faith, Cory treats every family he helps as a responsibility, not a sale, with honesty, transparency and no pressure. He compares top-rated companies to find honest options: term life with living benefits, indexed universal life, permanent coverage, and annuities, including 401(k) rollovers and retirement income you can’t outlive. Florida License W526357.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
