Buy Health Insurance Online

Exclusive

Wellness Benefits

24*7 Claims

Support

Tax Savings

u/s 80D

Zero Paperwork Online Process

Pin Code

+91 Enter Mobile Number

Try agian later

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Port My Policy

Download Policy

(Incl 18% GST)

How Does Smoking Affect Your Health Insurance Premium?

There is a common misconception that health insurance providers tend to deny coverage to smokers and tobacco users. But, this is not true. Actually, many health insurance companies are ready to cover those who some, but usually at higher premiums, and further terms and conditions.

Due to its injurious nature, smoking can affect the cost of medical coverage and other healthcare expenses. But as smokers are more likely to be prone to lifestyle diseases than non-smokers, it is more important for them to be covered by a health insurance policy. Let us take a look at how smoking can affect the cost of your health insurance premium.

Team Digit

Can a Smoker Still Get a Health Insurance Policy?

As mentioned above, yes, many health insurers will provide coverage to smokers. The IRDAI even has mandated that smokers have a right to apply for health insurance. However, the terms, conditions, and costs of premium vary from insurer to insurer.

If you are identified as a smoker by your insurer, they might ask you to take a few medical tests to ascertain your health before deciding on the premium, especially if you are over 40 years of age, or you want a higher sum insured amount.

What Constitutes a Smoker for Insurance Purposes?

According to a report, 34.6% of adults in India are smokers, and more use tobacco in other ways. But what constitutes smoking or tobacco use, according to insurers?

When applying for a health insurance policy, insurers usually ask two important questions.

Do you smoke?
Have you smoked in the past six months?

A smoker is anyone who consumes tobacco in any form, including cigarettes, cigars, snuff, or chewing tobacco. And, if someone smokes more than four times a week and has done so for at least six months, then they are classified as a smoker.

Since insurers look at daily tobacco consumption as an indicator, those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day will usually face higher loading on their health insurance premiums.

Why is it Important to Disclose Smoking to Your Insurer?

It is very important to be honest and disclose your smoking habits to your insurer. Misrepresenting the facts can lead to your claims being rejected, and might also be considered insurance fraud and lead to legal troubles.

Also, be honest about how often you smoke, as even declaring of smoking 2 cigarettes a day, while you actually smoke 6 cigarettes a day can pose issues. Medical tests at the time of claims can detect nicotine in blood and urine tests, and can quickly lead to claim rejection.

Thus, if you are a smoker or even if you have given up smoking long ago, don’t hesitate to disclose it. The higher premium is worth it compared to large hospital bills that can wipe out your savings.

Why Smoking Increases Your Health Insurance Premium?

Smoking is one of the major factors that affect your health insurance premium, since it can cause a number of health problems like lung infections, cancer and other critical illnesses. This makes smokers a higher risk, as these health issues might lead to a higher chance of them making health insurance claims in the future. Thus, they will be charged a higher premium.

In fact, the health insurance premiums for smokers can be almost double those for non-smokers. For example, say 25-year-old non-smoker pays ₹5,577/year for a sum insured of ₹1 crore, then a smoker of the same age would pay around ₹9,270/year for the same amount.

What about Smokers with Pre-Existing Health Conditions?

In case an individual who smokes has a pre-existing condition (like diabetes and hypertension), whether it is related to their smoking or otherwise, insurers might ask for further medical tests to reveal any health complications.

Then they will decide the premium based on the severity of these health conditions. Additionally, there will be a waiting period of 1-4 years before these pre-existing diseases are covered. While this period is the same for smokers and non-smokers, some conditions might be excluded for smokers.

What are the Health Hazards of Smoking?

Regular or heavy smoking can lead to an increased risk of several health issues, including:

Respiratory complications and diseases
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Heart diseases
Cancer (especially oral and lung cancer)
Stroke
Emphysema
Osteoporosis
Pregnancy-related complications

Thus, the increased risk of these illnesses makes it more important for smokers to buy health insurance so that they have financial protection.

What Can Smokers do to Reduce their Health Insurance Premiums?

Since smokers face higher premiums for their health insurance, there are a few things they can do to change this.

Quit Smoking – if you quit smoking for at least 2 years during the policy period, health insurers may consider this and lower your premiums accordingly.
Joining a Smoking Cessation Program – if you are unable to quit on your own, many health insurance companies offer, or have tie-ups with smoking cessation programs that can help you do so. Again, you must show at least 2 years without smoking before your premium changes.
Look at Different Insurance Companies – since there is a large population of smokers in India, there are a few health insurance companies that offer policies to them with comparatively lower premium amounts. You can research and look for such companies.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be seen that smokers must be prepared to pay a higher amount for health insurance, as they have greater health risks. But, while being a smoker will increase the cost of your health insurance premium, it should not stop you from opting for a health policy.

Smokers may face many serious health issues that make it essential for them to have this financial protection in case of a medical emergency.

Disclaimer: It is advised to disclose smoking habits in the proposal form. The Insurance company reserves the right to accept or reject the health insurance policy.

FAQs about Health Insurance for Smokers

All

Can you get a health insurance policy if you smoke?

Yes, it is possible to get a health insurance policy even if you are a smoker. However, keep in mind that you might have to pay a higher premium as compared to a non-smoker.

How will the insurance company know that you are a smoker?

Generally, insurance companies rely on you to honestly report whether or not you are a smoker. They will ask this in the application for your health insurance. However, some companies may further verify this through a routine medical exam with tests for nicotine use.

Remember, misrepresenting your smoking habits could result in rejection of claims, and further legal issues.

What happens if you don’t disclose smoking habits to your insurer?

Knowing that smoking habits might increase your premiums might tempt people to withhold this information from their insurers. But that is a very bad idea. It can lead to rejection of your claims, as in serious cases, it can end in legal troubles as well.

Why is health insurance more expensive for smokers?

Smokers face a greater risk of getting a number of health problems than non-smokers, such as respiratory problems, heart problems, stroke, cancer and more. Due to this, health insurers will charge them a higher health insurance premium than non-smokers, to cover these increased risks

When might a health insurer reject health insurance for a smoker?

While in most cases, smokers who have a few cigarettes a day and are generally fit, you can easily avail health insurance. However, heavy smokers who smoke more than 20-40 cigarettes a day, chain smokers, and those with smoking-related health complications may face a rejection of their proposal.

Latest News

Currently there are no news to show.

More articles related to Health Insurance

Deductible in Health Insurance

Sum Insured in Health Insurance

Daily Hospital Cash Benefit

Types of Health Insurance

PED in Health Insurance

What is Copay in Health Insurance

Cancer Insurance Cover

TPA in Health Insurance

Difference between Mediclaim Policy and Health Insurance

Difference between Term Insurance and Health Insurance

Difference between Life Insurance and Health Insurance

What is Health Insurance

Best Health Insurance Policy in India

Daycare Treatment and Procedures in Health Insurance

Room Rent Capping in Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Diabetes Patients

Health Insurance covering Cataract Surgery

Health Insurance with Free Annual Checkup

Domiciliary Hospitalization in Health Insurance

Government Health Insurance Schemes

Sub-Limit in Health Insurance Policy

Cooling-off Period in Health Insurance

Loading in Health Insurance

Pre and Post Hospitalization Expenses in Health Insurance

GMC and GPA Policies in Health Insurance

Indemnity Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Disabled Persons

Difference Between Waiting Period and Survival Period

Types of Health Insurance Claims

Health Tips & Guides

Nutrition Tips & Guides

Human Wellbeing

Guides about different Diseases

Health Insurance Tips

Health Insurance for Smokers

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Buy Health Insurance on EMI

What is Nominee In Health Insurance

Grace Period in Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Parents of NRIs

Difference between Moratorium and Full Medical Underwriting

Exclusions in Health Insurance

Non - Medical Expenses in Health Insurance

Road Ambulance Cover in Health Insurance

Consumable Cover in Health Insurance

Air Ambulance Cover in Health Insurance

What Is Reimbursement Claim ?

Health Insurance Tax Benefits for Senior Citizens

Why Separate Health Insurance for your Parents?

Health Insurance After Retirement

Health Insurance for Pre-Retirees

Health Insurance for Freelancers and Self-Employed

Health Insurance for Government Employees

Why Health Insurance is Important for Mothers?

Difference Between Inpatient and Outpatient Hospitalisation

Restoration Benefit in Health Insurance

Cumulative Bonus in Health Insurance

Terminal vs Critical Illness

Health Insurance Myths

How to Choose the Right Sum Insured

Mental Health Insurance

Infertility Treatment Cover

Bariatric Surgery Cover

What is Organ Transplant Cover

AYUSH Benefit in Health Insurance

Compare Health Insurance

Maternity Health Insurance

Zone Based Health Insurance

Copay vs Coinsurance vs Deductible

Health Insurance Add-Ons

Health Insurance Benefits

Dental Health Insurance

Increase in Health Premium on Renewal

Fixed and Indemnity Health Insurance

Maternity Benefit without Waiting Period

Difference between Copay Coinsurance and Deductible in Health Insurance

Waiting Period in Health Insurance

Why Health Insurance Premium Increase on Renewal

Download Health Insurance Policy Wordings

Click here for Policy wordings | Digit Health Care plus policy - Benefit illustration

Disclaimer #1: *Customer can choose options at the time of availing insurance. Premium amount may vary accordingly. Insured is required to disclose any pre-existing condition or on going treatment before policy issuance in the proposal form.

Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.

Get 10+ Exclusive Features only on Digit App

Install

Get 10+ Exclusive Features only on Digit App

Latest News

Currently there are no news to show.

Renew & Download Policy Document, Check Challan, Credit Score, PUC & more

43K+ Reviews

4.7

Rated App

43K+ Reviews

7K+ Reviews

4.4

Rated App

7K+ Reviews

Download the App

CIN: U66010PN2016PLC167410, IRDAI Reg. No. 158.

Go Digit General Insurance Limited (formerly known as Oben General Insurance Ltd.) - Registered Office Address - 1 to 6 floors, Ananta One (AR One), Pride Hotel Lane, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, City Survey No.1579, Shivaji Nagar, Pune-411005, Maharashtra | Corporate Office Address - Atlantis, 95, 4th B Cross Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, 5th Block, Bengaluru-560095, Karnataka | Trade logo of Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. displayed above belongs to Go Digit lnfoworks Services Private Limited and is provided and used by Go Digit General Insurance Ltd. under license.