Sutta and Chai! A feeling in itself you say. On a rainy day, feels better with pakodas you also say? Well, I won’t confirm or deny but your insurer will deny. Deny? Deny what you ask? 

Well, your claim can get denied if you play hide and seek with your insurer about smoking. Does this scare you? If it does, then quit smoking for good. But let me also throw some light on if the smoker you can get an insurance and the most important do’s and don’ts.

Do insurers hire private investigators who follow you around without your knowledge and they figure out that you smoke? Naah, they just ask you to take some medical tests. Nicotine traces can be found in the saliva, hair, urine and blood. Did you assume that if you applied perfume and ate gum, no one would find out?

Yes, yes, I’m coming back to the point which is, can a smoker get an insurance in the first place?

Just because I’m going to say yes, doesn’t mean you continue smoking but yes, you can be a smoker and have insurance. You’ll just be spending on cigarette, as well as increased premiums on your insurance but your choice, who am I to stop you from dying sooner?

Watch: Ditto CEO explains impact of smoking on insurance and much more

Health insurance premiums for smokers may be nearly twice as high as those for non-smokers. For instance, if a 25-year-old non-smoker pays Rs 5,577 per year for a coverage of Rs 1 crore, a smoker of the same age would pay approximately Rs 9,270 annually for the same coverage amount.

But, before that, let me tell you who is a smoker.

Whether you are a Bob Marley fan or a Gen Z who carries vape everywhere or smokes E-Cigarettes, doesn’t matter how frequent, you are still considered a smoker. 

As per IRDAI, an individual seeking insurance is classified as a smoker if they have used tobacco within the past 12 months prior to the application date.

Also Read: What is Cashless Everywhere in Health Insurance?

What happens if you start smoking after getting your insurance?

The policy remains active throughout the premium period, irrespective of changes in the smoking habits of the buyer.

But, what about pre existing health conditions?

For smokers with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, whether connected to their smoking habits or not, insurers may request additional medical examinations to detect any underlying health issues. Subsequently, they will determine the premium based on the seriousness of these conditions. Moreover, there will be a waiting period of 1-4 years before coverage for these pre-existing ailments begins. While the waiting period applies equally to smokers and non-smokers, certain conditions might be excluded specifically for smokers.

What about life insurance for smokers? 

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in India. An average smoker is likely to die 10 years earlier than a non-smoker. 

Every smoker should have a life insurance plan, as the probability of a smoker passing away earlier than other non-smokers is higher. Bearing this in mind, insurance companies now offer term insurance plans for smokers.

You know what you got to do! Quit smoking, join a program which helps you quit and due to the significant number of smokers in India, several health insurance companies provide policies tailored to them with relatively reduced premium rates. You can explore and identify such companies through research.