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Cheap Life Insurance for Cigar Smokers

life insurance for cigar smokers
Insurance Quotes 2 Day Team

Written By Doug Mitchell

Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA.  Doug has spent close to 30 years in the insurance and financial planning industry and has held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance, health.  Doug is also a financial blogger addressing the topics of life insurance, annuities and retirement income planning.

Holly Mitchell  &

Holly Mitchell’s background in life insurance insurance goes back to 1985 when she worked for her father who was a New York Life agent. Holly has a marketing degree from Auburn University and has had a life insurance license since 2008. In addition to advising life insurance for customers all around the country, Holly is our website fact checker.

Rob Pinner   &

Rob Pinner is the founder and CEO of Pinner Financial Services servicing all 50 states. Rob started his insurance career in 2002.

Louis LaBash

Results-driven and innovative life insurance professional with 30 plus years of life insurance industry sales and marketing experience. Recognized as a pioneer in the field, leveraging phone and internet channels to exceed personal sales of over $100 million during the first decade of the 21st century. Creator of a highly effective intuitive IUL life insurance sales software that facilitated the sale of millions of dollars of indexed universal policies by numerous life insurance agents. Proven track record as a Managing General Agent (MGA), Life Agent, IUL Life Insurance Sales Software developer, and leading-edge creator of insurance marketing tools, educational content, and delivery systems.

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Cigar and pipe smokers face an issue in their efforts to select a term insurance policy that will be suitable for their budget. Finding life insurance for cigar smokers can be a challenge for the inexperienced. Cigars are certainly not the same as cigarettes, and most individuals don’t think of it as smoking when you enjoy a cigar or smoke a pipe on occasion. The issue is that life insurers always ask about smoking, and most of them typically order a urine test to determine if the body has nicotine in your system before they offer or issue a policy.

In lots of cases, cigar and pipe smokers will find that the life insurance companies employ very tough requirements to qualify as a non-smoker when the applicant has a history of cigar or pipe smoking.

Why are life insurance rates higher for cigar and pipe smokers?

Even though most cigar and pipe smokers do not inhale and their use is less frequent than a cigarette smoker, health issues along with nicotine addiction are typically manifested.  WebMD provides significant information regarding these health risks and offers it to the public on its website:

Cancer

Whether you inhale or not, it is possible to develop different kinds of cancer as a result of smoking cigars or smoking a pipe. Individuals who regularly smoke cigars are more likely to die from mouth cancers, larynx cancer, or cancer of the esophagus.  Unfortunately for smokers, oral cancers can flourish in any place that cigar or pipe smoke touches.  Smokers who inhale likewise increase the risk of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bladder cancer.

Lung Diseases

Pipe smoking and smoking cigars can double the smoker’s risk for damage to the airway, which typically results in lung disease that can include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking tobacco products can also exacerbate existing asthma.

Heart Disease

When people smoke pipes or cigars, there is a substantial chance of developing heart disease or the chance of stroke. It’s also been documented that smoking tobacco can increase the risk of early death from heart disease by at least 30%.

Teeth and Mouth Issues

Anyone who smokes tobacco takes the chance of having damaged teeth and damage to the mouth. Smoking tobacco can also contribute to diseased gums, tobacco-stained teeth, tobacco breath, and possible tooth loss. A study that was recently published indicated that cigar and pipe smokers, on average, have four missing teeth as a result of their smoking.

 

Cheap Life Insurance for Cigar and Pipe Smokers

Unfortunately, most insurers are all over the place regarding underwriting for cigar and pipe smokers. With most, however, how often you partake in each particular vice comes into play when they assign a rate class. Some companies offer much better rates than others for cigar and pipe smokers, and we are happy to offer our favorite players below:

American General life insurance for cigar smokers

American General is one of the few insurers that will offer a Preferred Plus rating with the caveat that you only smoke one cigar per week and that you haven’t smoked cigarettes for at least five years.

Banner Life insurance for cigar smokers

Banner is slightly more liberal than American General because it offers several cost-saving scenarios. Banner Life is also great for life insurance with diabetes.  They do, however, frown upon smoking and diabetics.

  • One cigar or less per month and no cigarettes for three years = Preferred Plus
  • No more than one cigar per month and no cigarettes for two years = Preferred non-smoker
  • One cigar or less per month and no smoking for 12 months = Standard Plus or Standard non-smoker

Protective life insurance for cigar smokers

Protective considers applicants for Preferred Plus rates when the cigar use is less than six annually. They will also consider Preferred rates if you smoke no more than twelve per year.

There is even better news, however. Prudential and Lincoln Financial will offer non-smoker rates as long as you do not smoke cigarettes. Your frequency of smoking cigars or a pipe does not come into play. Neither does chewing tobacco use, or the patch, for that matter.

Lincoln Financial life insurance for cigar smokers

Lincoln Review

Lincoln Financial is one of those companies that have very competitive rates and have less strict underwriting guidelines compared to the other insurers. Lincoln only considers cigarette smokers as “smoker risks,” and other tobacco users are classified as non-smokers.

Lincoln Cigar Smoker Rates for a 20-year $500,000 Term Insurance Policy

Lincoln Financial Cigar life insurance rates

It’s important to remember that these rates are based on a non-cigarette smoker who is healthy and fits within the height and weight parameters set forth by the company. It is likely that a medical exam and blood/urine test will be ordered as part of the underwriting process.

Prudential life insurance for cigar smokers

Prudential Logo

Prudential is considered the most liberal company regarding tobacco underwriting because it will offer a preferred or preferred plus rate class for applicants who smoke a cigar or pipe.  Always check with all the companies.  You can start by using the life insurance calculator on this page.

Prudential Cigar Smoker Life Insurance rates for a  20-year $500,000 Term Insurance Policy

Prudential cigar smoker life insurance rate chart

For accurate rates based on your age, please use our life insurance calculator on this page. 

Underwriting life insurance for Cigar Smokers

The life insurers who offer the cheapest life insurance rates for cigar smokers and pipe smokers are likely to have you go through an underwriting process. Most of the companies that offer an accelerated underwriting process (no medical exam) may still require exams and labs.  The underwriting process will likely include the following:

  • Completing the life insurance application
  • Submitting to an insurance exam and blood and urine test
  • Agreeing to a report that is retrieved from the Medical Information Bureau
  • Agreeing to a report that is retrieved from a national prescription drug database
  • Agreeing to a Motor Vehicle Report that is retrieved from a national database
  • Other requirements may be necessary depending on your death benefit and purpose of your insurance policy.

We can help cigar smokers find cheap life insurance
Start by using the life insurance calculator on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get life insurance if I smoke the occasional cigar?

Unfortunately, most insurers are all over the place when it comes to underwriting for cigar and pipe smokers. With most, however, how often you partake in each particular vice comes into play when they assign a rate class. There are some companies that offer much better rates than others for cigar and pipe smokers.

Which companies will sell life insurance to a cigar or pipe smoker?

American General, Banner, Lincoln, Protective Life and Prudential are some of the carriers that will offer more affordable life insurance to cigar or pipe smokers. An independent life insurance agent can help you determine which carrier will work best for you.

Why is harder to get life insurance if you smoke cigars or a pipe?

Cigar and pipe users can develop health issues such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, or mouth and teeth issues. While you may pay a higher premium, there are options.

 

 

author avatar
Doug Mitchell, CLU Independant Advisor
Doug Mitchell, CLU holds a BA degree in Finance from Auburn University as well as having obtained a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College in Bryn Mahr, PA. Doug has spent almost 30 years in the life insurance industry and has also held licenses to sell securities, long-term care insurance and home and auto insurance. Doug is a Top of the Table Million Dollar Round Table member (MDRT).  MDRT is a global, independent association of the world's leading life insurance advisors.  For two years, Doug served as President of the Auburn Opelika Association of Financial Advisors and has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He obtained Life Millionaire status at Horace Mann Insurance Company and was awarded the Life Agent of the Year Award. Later in his career with New York Life he was an Executive Council Member. Doug currently serves as President of Ogletree Financial, a managing general agency serving life insurance agents and clients in all parts of the United States. Today, Doug’s main focus is servicing 1000s of policyholders and growing the agency through the reach of  insurancequotes2day.com.