Life Insurance for cigar smokers: Will I have to pay smokers’ rates for life insurance?

Three-quarters of all cigar aficionados are only occasional smokers. Most life insurance companies define that as one per month, though a couple of carriers have liberalized their rules to allow up to four per month, and under those terms they rate your risk of death for insurance purposes as "non-tobacco user."



To find the lowest rate, " shop the carriers that are cool about celebratory cigars and find the ones with the best rates.

The ways in which life insurance companies categorize treatment of cigar smokers literally vary from one extreme to the other.

A few companies have taken the position that all forms of tobacco are equally harmful, and thus charge cigar smokers and cigarette smokers the same rates. (However, there may be exceptions for very occasional use; for example, less than 12 cigars per year.)

Other insurance companies take a middle-of-the-road position, charging cigar smokers more than nonsmokers but less than the heaviest-smoking class. Some insurance companies even consider cigar smokers to be nonsmokers, offering the lower rates typically reserved for those who don’t smoke cigarettes at all.

So, if you’re a cigar smoker, try calling your insurance agent or doing some research to find the best life insurance rates available. You should probably act quickly, too, as insurance companies could change their rules if clinical research determines that cigar smoking is more dangerous than previously believed.

Insurance companies will typically reevaluate your rates if you quit smoking for at least a year – something to keep in mind if you’re more just a part of the cigar trend than a truly dedicated stogie smoker.

Need a quick quote? Call Mintco Financial at 813 964 7100 or visit: http://www.mintcofinancial.com/term-life-insurance-quote