Updated: August 4, 2025
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Protective offers the cheapest average rate for male smokers at $49 per month for a 10-year $250,000 policy. For women, North American and Midland National have the most affordable average monthly rate of $40.
Senior smokers can find the cheapest average rates from North American, Columbus Life, Midland National, and SBLI.
Young adult smokers can find the cheapest rates from North American, Securian, Protective, Assurity, and Columbus Life, with monthly premiums ranging from $23 to $80 based on gender and age.
Overall, smokers will find higher rates than the average for life insurance. However, we found that Protective is the cheapest overall provider for smokers, with average monthly rates of $49 or an annual average of $590.
Rates will differ for females, with North American and Midland National offering 10-year policies with $250,000 at $40 per month or $485 per year. Compare the cheapest life insurance companies for smokers in the table below.
| Protective Insurance | $49 | $590 |
| North American | $49 | $594 |
| Midland National | $49 | $594 |
| AAA | $50 | $601 |
| Fidelity Life | $51 | $612 |
| Columbus Life | $52 | $616 |
| Securian | $53 | $630 |
| CoreBridge | $57 | $680 |
| TransAmerica | $57 | $684 |
| Cincinnati Life | $57 | $686 |
| Legal&General | $58 | $699 |
| Assurity | $60 | $718 |
| Pacific Life | $60 | $719 |
| Lincoln Financial | $61 | $726 |
| Guardian Life | $63 | $751 |
| SBLI | $62 | $751 |
| Nationwide | $64 | $771 |
| Foresters Financial | $65 | $778 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $65 | $780 |
| Principal National | $68 | $820 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $70 | $835 |
| National Life Group | $70 | $835 |
| Prudential | $70 | $838 |
| John Hancock | $84 | $1,012 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $84 | $1,017 |
*Rates are for 40-year-olds with $250,000 worth of coverage over 10 years. Individual rates will vary based on health, location, and other factors.
While it is difficult, smokers over 60 can still find affordable life insurance. For 60-year-old males, the cheapest life insurance providers are North American and Midland National at $301 per month for a $250,000, 10-year term policy. A 70-year-old male with the same policy can get the cheapest rate from SBLI at $784 per month.
Below, you can compare life insurance rates for senior smokers from top providers:
| North American | $301 | $3,611 |
| Midland National | $301 | $3,611 |
| Protective Insurance | $315 | $3,774 |
| Columbus Life | $315 | $3,777 |
| AAA | $323 | $3,868 |
| Securian | $355 | $4,253 |
| Assurity | $357 | $4,283 |
| Foresters Financial | $370 | $4,439 |
| Lincoln Financial | $370 | $4,443 |
| Cincinnati Life | $374 | $4,486 |
| CoreBridge | $379 | $4,540 |
| TransAmerica | $385 | $4,612 |
| Legal&General | $388 | $4,652 |
| Pacific Life | $399 | $4,785 |
| Guardian Life | $408 | $4,901 |
| SBLI | $414 | $4,963 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $424 | $5,092 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $425 | $5,096 |
| National Life Group | $425 | $5,096 |
| Prudential | $429 | $5,144 |
| Principal National | $458 | $5,502 |
| John Hancock | $487 | $5,850 |
| Fidelity Life | $491 | $5,893 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $872 | $10,475 |
*Rates are for smokers aged 60 to 70 with $250,000 coverage for 10 years.
Protective has an average monthly cost of $32 for young adult males aged 25, making it the cheapest option for this age bracket. For a 25-year-old female smoker, the cheapest life insurance is from Assurity at $24 per month.
Getting life insurance while still young can result in lower rates than are available to older adults while allowing for more time to renegotiate your rate if you quit for more than a year.
| Protective Insurance | $32 | $380 |
| North American | $32 | $383 |
| Midland National | $32 | $383 |
| Columbus Life | $33 | $393 |
| Securian | $33 | $393 |
| Assurity | $32 | $395 |
| Cincinnati Life | $34 | $405 |
| AAA | $34 | $413 |
| CoreBridge | $36 | $431 |
| Foresters Financial | $36 | $431 |
| Legal&General | $37 | $441 |
| Fidelity Life | $37 | $451 |
| Lincoln Financial | $37 | $452 |
| Pacific Life | $38 | $454 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $38 | $455 |
| SBLI | $39 | $465 |
| TransAmerica | $40 | $480 |
| Guardian Life | $40 | $486 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $40 | $486 |
| National Life Group | $40 | $486 |
| Prudential | $43 | $516 |
| Principal National | $44 | $525 |
| Nationwide | $47 | $556 |
| John Hancock | $54 | $651 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $60 | $718 |
*Rates are for smokers ages 20 to 39 with $250,000 coverage for 10 years.
Protective is the cheapest life insurance company for smokers looking for a high coverage amount, with an average monthly cost of $144 for male smokers. For female smokers, the cheapest life insurance providers for a high coverage amount are North American and Midland National. The companies offer an average monthly rate of $119 for a 10-year term life insurance with $1 million in coverage.
| Protective Insurance | $144 | $1,742 |
| North American | $146 | $1,760 |
| Midland National | $146 | $1,760 |
| AAA | $155 | $1,871 |
| Columbus Life | $165 | $1,971 |
| Securian | $174 | $2,078 |
| TransAmerica | $186 | $2,228 |
| CoreBridge | $193 | $2,300 |
| Nationwide | $191 | $2,312 |
| Foresters Financial | $198 | $2,357 |
| SBLI | $196 | $2,359 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $197 | $2,360 |
| Guardian Life | $198 | $2,381 |
| Cincinnati Life | $197 | $2,388 |
| Legal&General | $199 | $2,394 |
| Assurity | $200 | $2,407 |
| Lincoln Financial | $203 | $2,410 |
| Equitable Life | $204 | $2,455 |
| Pacific Life | $205 | $2,463 |
| Prudential | $221 | $2,663 |
| Principal National | $228 | $2,733 |
| Fidelity Life | $233 | $2,776 |
| John Hancock | $231 | $2,789 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $234 | $2,810 |
| National Life Group | $234 | $2,810 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $244 | $2,938 |
*Rates are for 40-year-old smokers with average weight and health rating.
The cheapest life insurance provider will likely vary depending on your coverage level and personal situation. However, we found that for most smokers, Protective and SBLI are the most affordable options. Below, you can find a further breakdown of each provider.
Protective stands out as the cheapest life insurance company for a 40-year-old male smoker seeking $250,000 in 10-year term coverage. With an average cost of $49 per month or $590 per year, Protective offers one of the most affordable term life insurance options available without compromising coverage quality.
Established in 1907, Protective also brings over 100 years of industry experience and provides a strong mix of low-cost policies, flexible terms, and optional riders.
**The cheapest company above is based on a 40-year-old male smoker with $250,000 10-year term policy.
SBLI ranks as the cheapest life insurance company for senior smokers, offering a 10-year term policy with $250,000 in coverage for a 70-year-old male smoker at an average cost of $784 per month or $9,398 per year. This competitive pricing, combined with solid financial ratings and customer satisfaction, makes SBLI a strong option for older adults who use tobacco.
Founded in 1907, SBLI brings over a century of experience and offers term life coverage up to $10 million for applicants aged 18 to 75. Seniors can customize their policies with available riders, such as:
**Cheapest based on a 70-year-old male smoker with $250,000 10-year term policy.
Protective offers the cheapest high-coverage life insurance for smokers, with a 10-year term policy providing $1 million in coverage to a 40-year-old male smoker for just $144 per month or $1,742 per year. This pricing makes Protective a standout option for those seeking substantial protection at a low rate.
Smokers can access high face amounts and enhance their coverage with several built-in and optional riders, including:
**Cheapest based on a 40-year-old male smoker with $1 Million 10-year term policy.
The most affordable life insurance policy depends on your coverage needs, health, age and financial goals. Below, find tips for getting the cheapest policy depending on your situation.
Life insurance providers take into account a variety of factors to determine life insurance rates, which differ by company. Follow the steps below as you calculate your coverage needs and get personalized life insurance quotes to help find the cheapest rates for you.
Different companies have varying rate structures for smokers. Also, companies classify smokers into different tobacco use categories. Companies like Protective, SBLI, North American, and Midland National often offer more competitive rates for tobacco users.
Your age also affects the cost of your life insurance, so signing up as early as possible helps lower the premium cost despite your smoking history. When buying, comparing life insurance quotes for smokers from multiple providers can help you find the best rates and coverage options tailored to your situation.
Maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels can qualify you for "preferred smoker" rates, saving you 15% to 20% on premiums.
Term life insurance typically offers lower premiums than whole life insurance, making it a more affordable option for smokers who already face higher rates due to their tobacco use.
The best way to lower your rates permanently is to quit smoking altogether. Some life insurance providers allow you to retake the nicotine test after a year and renegotiate your rates. You can also switch to other providers, which could give you standard rates when you've been smoke-free for more than 12 months.
Life insurance for smokers comes with higher premiums, but there are ways to minimize these costs. Learn the right strategies to help secure adequate coverage for smokers while keeping rates as affordable as possible.
Companies verify tobacco use through questionnaires and medical tests that detect nicotine or cotinine, typically identifying use from the past week. Our research shows most insurers classify you as a smoker if you've used any of these products within the past 12 months, as most providers require a 12-month tobacco-free period before qualifying for nonsmoker rates.
Even occasional cigarette use results in a smoker classification. Smokers typically pay two to three times higher premiums than nonsmokers, with rates remaining elevated until you've been nicotine-free for at least 12 months.
Some insurers offer nonsmoker rates for limited cigar consumption (one to two monthly) with negative lab results. Companies like Prudential and Lincoln National are more favorable for occasional users. Pipes and hookahs are generally classified like cigars, with most companies applying standard tobacco rates.
Select insurers offer standard non-tobacco rates even for daily users. This can reduce premiums by over 50% compared to tobacco rates, making company selection crucial for smokeless tobacco users.
Despite being marketed as alternatives, most insurers classify vaping the same as cigarettes due to health concerns about additives and chemicals. Expect smoker rates if you use these products.
*Importantly, nicotine replacement therapies (patches, gum, lozenges) are generally NOT classified as tobacco use, as they're viewed as cessation aids. If you use nicotine pouches, like Zyn, it's likely to appear in your lab tests. You will likely be considered a smoker.
You should never lie on a life insurance application. Being honest about your smoking status is always the best approach, even if it means paying higher premiums in the short term. Lying on your life insurance application is a bad idea for these reasons:
Lying on an application is illegal and constitutes fraud, which can have serious legal consequences.
Most life insurance policies have a two-year contestability period during which the company can investigate and deny claims if it finds evidence of misrepresentation.
If you die and the insurance company discovers you lied about smoking (which they often can through medical records or autopsy), they can refuse to pay the death benefit to your beneficiaries.
Companies can cancel your policy entirely if they discover misrepresentation, leaving you without coverage when you might no longer qualify for a new policy.
Blood and urine tests can detect nicotine from tobacco use, making it difficult to hide smoking status.
Options exist for smokers seeking no-exam life insurance, but they require careful consideration. MoneyGeek recommends comparing insurers like American General, Mutual of Omaha and Prudential, as their smoker definitions vary. Though convenient, these policies cost 20% to 40% more than standard coverage and still require honest disclosure about tobacco use since medical records are checked regardless.
If you occasionally smoke or use tobacco with cigars or other methods, you can still get affordable life insurance. One option is Prudential Life Insurance, which offers nonsmoker rates and potentially even its Standard Plus non-smoker rate classification to healthy users. It also offers its "Non-Smoker Plus" rate to cigar smokers, and uniquely, even to daily cigar smokers.
Quitting smoking can reduce life insurance costs by over 65%, with middle-aged ex-smokers paying as little as $19 monthly for a $250,000, 10-year policy compared to $61 for smokers. Most insurers offer rate reconsideration after 12 to 24 tobacco-free months, requiring verification through health questionnaires and nicotine tests.
| No | $19 | $229 |
| Yes | $61 | $733 |
*Rates are based on a 40-year-old male with a $250,000 10-year term policy.
Alternatively, consider canceling your existing policy and shopping for a nonsmoker policy elsewhere. The table below shows how certain major companies define quitting.
Company | Quitting Definition |
|---|---|
Allstate | Requires at least one year tobacco-free to qualify for nonsmoker rates |
Transamerica | Offers preferred rating class after 24 months (2 years) of not smoking |
Protective | Offers preferred rates after 24 months (2 years) since your last cigarette |
Prudential | Uniquely offers nonsmoker rates to people who chew tobacco while requiring 12 months of cigarette-free for former smokers |
Mutual of Omaha | Follows standard industry practices requiring at least 12 months tobacco-free before qualifying for nonsmoker rates |
We provided an in-depth look at the top life insurance companies that offer the lowest average rates for smokers across several demographic categories. Overall, the cheapest life insurance rates for smokers come from Protective, with average rates as low as $49 monthly. Customers can also find affordable rates from SBLI, North American, Columbus Life, Midland National, Securian, and Assurity. We recommend comparing multiple providers to get the cheapest price on your life insurance if you smoke tobacco.
Below are frequently asked questions about life insurance for smokers:
Yes, smoking impacts life insurance, with smokers typically paying 100% to 200% higher rates than nonsmokers due to increased health risks associated with tobacco use. Former smokers can qualify for lower rates after remaining tobacco-free for 12 months or more, providing a financial incentive to quit.
The cheapest life insurance company for smokers depends on certain factors, including age, gender, location and coverage amount. MoneyGeek's analysis found that Protective is the overall cheapest insurer for the average smoker, with a 10-year term and a $250,000 coverage amount.
Life insurance is available for smokers in all 50 states. You can get affordable life insurance quotes even if you are a smoker. You should expect your premiums to be more expensive than those offered to nonsmokers.
Smoker vs nonsmoker life insurance rates can vary. For instance, nonsmokers may pay an average monthly premium of $19, whereas smokers often see premiums averaging $61 per month. That means nonsmokers pay about 65% less.
Cigarette smoking is the most common form of smoking. But someone who vapes or smokes e-cigarettes, cigars and pipes could also be considered a smoker, as could someone who chews tobacco or uses other nicotine- and tobacco-replacement products like gum and patches.
You may be wondering how life insurance companies know if you smoke. When you buy a policy, life insurance companies test for nicotine use through a paramedical test. This test detects the presence of nicotine and cotinine and how long it has been in your system. Lying about tobacco use when you buy life insurance is considered fraud. It could be a reason for insurance providers to cancel your policy or deny your benefits claim.
No obligation to report: Most life insurance policies don't require you to report lifestyle changes like starting to smoke after your policy is in force. The rates you locked in at policy issuance typically remain unchanged regardless of new tobacco use.
Some insurance providers offer to reevaluate your smoking history and lower your original premiums if you’ve refrained from smoking for more than 12 months.
Yes, life insurance typically covers cancer even if you smoke. However, smokers’ life insurance rates may be higher. Being honest about smoking status is vital, as lying about smoking on life insurance can lead to claim denial.
Yes, if you need the financial protection, it's the right move even at a higher cost. Smokers can still find affordable life insurance and get cheaper rates after quitting.
Most life insurance companies define occasional cigar use as one per month. However, some have more liberal rules allowing up to four per month and will classify you as a "non-tobacco user" at these levels.
Shopping for life insurance as a smoker feels frustrating — you know you'll pay more, but it's hard to figure out which companies offer the best rates for tobacco users. That's why we focused our research specifically on smoker premiums to help you find affordable coverage despite higher rates.
Research Scope and Data Collection
We gathered 1,488 life insurance quotes specifically for smokers to identify which companies offer the most competitive rates for tobacco users. Rather than relying on advertised rates or industry averages, we collected actual quotes from companies with broad national coverage and online quoting capabilities.
Our approach prioritized companies that could provide immediate, transparent pricing for smokers: eliminating the guesswork and phone tag that often comes with shopping for life insurance as a tobacco user.
Sample Customer Profile
MoneyGeek used a standard profile to obtain life insurance quotes:
Our pick for the cheapest overall life insurance company is based on the standard profile. Premiums are based on the standard profile unless otherwise noted.
Coverage Analysis and Variations
Beyond our standard profile, we modified key variables to capture rate differences across different smoker demographics:
Why This Methodology Matters for Smokers
Smokers face unique challenges in the life insurance market: rates can be 2-3 times higher than non-smoker premiums, and not all companies handle tobacco users the same way. Some insurers specialize in competitive smoker rates, while others simply add standard penalties.
Our research identified these patterns and rate variations so you can focus your shopping efforts on companies that actually compete for smoker business, rather than wasting time with insurers that view tobacco users as unwanted risk.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
