Updated: June 29, 2025
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Allstate, GEICO, Transamerica and Protective are the cheapest life insurance companies for smokers on average nationally across demographics.
Along with offering the cheapest life insurance policies with higher coverage amounts for male and female smokers, Transamerica also has the cheapest overall life insurance rates for young female smokers.
While GEICO offers the cheapest life insurance rates for young adult and senior male smokers, Allstate has the lowest rates for senior female smokers.
Overall, smokers will find higher rates than the average for life insurance. However, we found that Allstate is the cheapest overall provider for smokers, regardless of gender, with average monthly rates of $27 for males and $23 for females.
| Allstate | $27 |
| Transamerica | $27 |
| GEICO | $28 |
| Protective | $29 |
| Nationwide | $36 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $37 |
| Prudential | $37 |
| AAA | $38 |
| Fidelity | $45 |
| Haven | $49 |
| State Farm | $49 |
| Bestow | $60 |
| Progressive | $68 |
*Rates are for 40-year-olds with $250,000 worth of coverage over 10 years.
While difficult, smokers over 60 can still find affordable life insurance, with the cheapest rates overall for senior male smokers in this age bracket coming from GEICO at $389 per month on average for a $250,000, 10-year coverage. Below, you can compare life insurance rates for senior smokers from all providers:
| GEICO | $389 |
| Transamerica | $389 |
| Allstate | $390 |
| Protective | $452 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $473 |
| State Farm | $481 |
| Prudential | $484 |
| AAA | $551 |
GEICO has an average monthly cost of $21 for young adult males and $20 for young adult females, making it the cheapest overall provider for young smokers across the board. 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.
| GEICO | $21 |
| Protective | $22 |
| Transamerica | $22 |
| Allstate | $22 |
| Nationwide | $26 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $27 |
| AAA | $30 |
| Prudential | $32 |
| Haven | $34 |
| Fidelity | $36 |
| Progressive | $36 |
| State Farm | $39 |
| Bestow | $47 |
*Rates are for smokers 25 to 30 years old.
Transamerica is the cheapest life insurance company for smokers looking for a high coverage amount, with an average monthly cost of $62 for male smokers and $52 for female smokers for a 10-year term life insurance policy with $1 million in coverage.
| Transamerica | $62 |
| GEICO | $62 |
| Allstate | $68 |
| Protective | $73 |
| Nationwide | $77 |
| AAA | $99 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $108 |
| State Farm | $113 |
| Prudential | $149 |
| Haven | $165 |
| Bestow | $207 |
| Fidelity | $218 |
| Progressive | $218 |
The cheapest life insurance provider will likely vary depending on your coverage level and personal situation. However, we found that for most smokers, Allstate, GEICO and Transamerica are the most affordable options. Below, you can find a further breakdown of each provider.
Lowest rates overall for most smokers
Wide range of term lengths (10 to 40 years)
24/7 online chat support available
Higher-than-average customer complaints
Doesn't issue its own life insurance policies
We found that Allstate has the most affordable smoker life insurance overall, with rates starting at $22 monthly. We also found that if you bought Allstate life insurance at smoker rates but have since quit, you can often ask Allstate to reassess your premiums at nonsmoker rates. This involves a waiting period plus a brief medical exam or tests. Customers can also find coverage ranging from $100,000 to $50 million and flexible 10- to 40-year terms.
Lowest rates for senior and young adult smokers
Flexible coverage options
No-exam products available through partners
Doesn't issue its own life insurance policies
Limited payment options
No whole or universal life products
We found GEICO has the cheapest life insurance for seniors and young adult smokers, starting at $23 per month for younger buyers and $389 per month for seniors. Customers can also take advantage of age-specific discounts for seniors and first-time policyholders. For former smokers, our research shows GEICO typically requires you to be tobacco-free for at least 12 months before qualifying for non-smoker rates.
A AM Best financial stability rating
Lowest rates for high coverage policies
No-exam option for high coverage
Higher-than-average customer complaints
No 24/7 online chat support
Mobile app limited to retirement
Our analysis found Transamerica offers the most competitive rates for smokers seeking $1 million or more in coverage due to simplified underwriting options that don't penalize smokers as severely as competitors, and flexible payment structures. In our interviews with policyholders, smokers reported fair treatment during the application process without feeling excessively penalized for their tobacco use.
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 Allstate and Transamerica 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 significantly 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 require careful consideration. MoneyGeek recommends comparing insurers like American General, Mutual of Omaha and Prudential, as their smoker definitions vary significantly. 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 40% to 60%, with middle-aged ex-smokers paying as little as $12 monthly for a $250,000, 10-year policy compared to $26 to $40 for smokers. Most insurers offer rate reconsideration after 12 to 24 tobacco-free months, requiring verification through health questionnaires and nicotine tests. Alternatively, consider canceling your existing policy and shopping for a nonsmoker policy elsewhere.
The table below shows how featured companies on our cheapest life insurance ranking 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 Allstate, with average rates as low as $22 monthly. Customers can also find affordable rates from GEICO, Transamerica and Protective. 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 significantly 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 Allstate 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 significantly. For instance, nonsmokers may pay an average monthly premium of $18, whereas smokers often see premiums averaging $41 per month. This equates to smokers paying about 121% more.
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.
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We analyzed 1,488 of life insurance quotes to determine the cheapest life insurance companies for smokers.
MoneyGeek compared life insurance companies across cost metrics and ranked them based on their premiums. We chose to review these companies based on their broad national coverage and ability to provide an online quote.
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.
We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and geographic location to collect various quotes and determine the cheapest life insurance company for several types of customers. We also collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts.
Additionally, we identified trends in the dataset and used those patterns to calculate projections and extend the data beyond what was originally collected.
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.
