Best Life Insurance for Smokers in January 2024

Life insurance companies use an applicant's health, occupation, age, lifestyle and habits to determine premiums. People who smoke tend to pay more than nonsmokers due to the health risks that come with smoking.

Comparing quotes and product features can help you find the best policy and provider based on your specific needs and profile. Nationwide emerged as the best life insurance company for smokers in MoneyGeek's analysis. It provides competitive rates, good customer experience and multiple policy choices, receiving an overall MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100.

Nationwide is MoneyGeek's top pick for smokers, with a MoneyGeek score of 97. With an average monthly cost of $36 for a 10-year term policy with $250,000 in coverage, it's a compelling choice. It also excels in high-coverage options, offering a $1 million policy at an average cost of $77 and earning a score of 98 for this category.

GEICO is our top choice for senior smokers aged 61–70, garnering a MoneyGeek score of 97. The company offers a 10-year term policy at a monthly cost of $389, issued through partners.

State Farm leads the pack in no-exam and whole life insurance policies for smokers. It received a MoneyGeek score of 99, the highest rating in these categories.

Life insurance rates vary widely by company, age and health status. Smokers typically pay higher premiums compared to nonsmokers. Based on average rates, male smokers pay $41 per month for a 10-year term life insurance with a $250,000 coverage amount.

Costs also vary by life insurance company. To highlight the ranges you can expect to pay for life insurance for smokers, the tables below illustrate different coverage options from several top life insurance companies. The more coverage you choose, the more you pay for life insurance.

If you want to get nontobacco rates, most life insurance companies require you to quit for at least a year to be eligible. The length of time varies and could be longer depending on the company. For instance, some companies won't consider you a nonsmoker until you've quit for two years.

If you already have life insurance and want to have your rate reconsidered, you have to get approval from the company and complete a medical exam to prove your tobacco-free status. You may have to pay for the medical exam to be reconsidered.

If you don't have life insurance in place, you shouldn't wait to buy a policy, even if you're quitting smoking. If you were to pass away while you're waiting to be considered a nonsmoker, your beneficiary would miss out on the death benefit. Some life insurance companies offer a rate reconsideration, which means they will allow you to prove your tobacco-free status by completing a medical exam at a later date.

If the life insurance company doesn't offer the option of a rate reconsideration, you can apply for a new life insurance policy once you are considered a nonsmoker. Once you have the policy in place, you can keep your smoker rate or cancel it if it's no longer needed or worth the cost.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about getting life insurance for smokers to help you get the best policy.