DIVYA SINGH
Written By:
DIVYA

DIVYA SINGH

Term and Life Insurance

Divya Singh is an associate writer at PolicyX.com with over 1 year of experience in creating diverse forms of content. She specializes in breaking down complex terms and life insurance topics into clear, practical insights for readers. Her approach combines thorough research with a simple, engaging style, ensuring that customers can understand policies without confusion.

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Reviewed By:
Bijendra Singh

Bijendra Singh

Term Insurance

Bijendra Singh with his 9 years of experience in the term insurance sector, has been instrumental in designing customer-centric sales programs. His passion towards innovation strives to achieve organizational objectives while driving sustainable growth in the competitive insurance landscape.

Term Insurance Plan for Smokers

Every smoker must have life insurance as their probability of passing away is greater than a non-smoker due to the potential health hazards. These health hazards include cancer, lung diseases, heart stroke, diabetes, etc. There are many term plans offered by various insurance companies for smokers. Generally, the term insurance plans for smokers are more costly compared to normal term plans as the risk associated with insuring smokers is higher.

The smokers are categorized into three types by insurance companies based on their smoking habits:

  • Preferred Smokers

    These smokers are usually fit despite smoking. The insurance premiums for this kind of smoker are lowest as compared to other smokers.
  • Typical Smokers

    These smokers are suffering from minor health issues due to smoking. The premiums charged to them are more than the preferred smokers.
  • Table Rated Smokers

    These smokers have health issues due to smoking. The premiums charged to them are the highest.

This article provides you with complete information about the best term plan for smokers, eligibility criteria, things to consider when buying, etc.

Best Term Insurance Plans For Smokers in India

Here is the list of term insurance for smokers:

Name of the PlanEntry AgeMaximum Maturity AgePolicy TermSum AssuredPremium (Annually)
HDFC Life Click 2 Protect SuperMin- 18 years Max- 84 years85 years1 month to 7 yearsMin- Rs 50,000 Max- No limitRs 16,395
Max Life Smart Secure Plus PlanMin- 18 years Max- 65 years85 years5 to 67 yearsMin- Rs 10 lakhs Max- No limitRs 11,385
Bajaj Allianz E Touch Life ShieldMin- 18 years Max- 65 years75 years10 to 40 yearsMin- Rs 50 lakhs Max- No limitRs 11,621
Tata AIA Sampoorna Raksha SupremeMin- 18 years Max- 65 years100 years10 to 40 yearsMin- Rs 50 lakhs Max- No limitRs 15,399
ICICI Prudential iProtect Smart Lumpsum PlanMin- 18 years Max- 65 years100 years5 to 99 yearsMin- Subject to minimum premium Max- No limitRs 12,834

* The above premiums are for a 30-year-old smoker male for a sum assured of Rs 50 lakhs.

Eligibility Criteria for Term Insurance Plan For Smokers

ParametersLimits
Entry Age18 to 75 years
Maturity age85 years
Policy tenure5 to 40 years
Premium payment term5 to 40 years
Premium payment frequencyMonthly, Quarterly, Half-yearly, and Yearly
PremiumRs 2,169
Sum assuredRs 3,00,000 (Minimum) No Limit (Maximum)

How Does Term Life Insurance For Smokers Work?

If a policyholder has smoked or consumed tobacco in the last 12 months then the insurance company would consider him as a smoker. The premiums charged to smokers by insurance companies are usually 30-40% higher depending on the level of smoking and medical reports. You should not hide your smoking habits from your insurer as it may result in claim rejection by the insurer. That’s why you should disclose your smoking habits and health facts with your insurers to avoid any issues at the time of claims.

How does smoking affect my term insurance premiums?

The term insurance premiums charged by a smoker vary by 30 to 60% as compared to a non-smoker. It happens so because smokers are more prone to death as compared to non-smokers. Let’s understand how smoking affects your term insurance premiums with a simple illustration.

There are two 25-year-old friends Raghav and Gaurav. Raghav is a smoker while Gaurav is a non-smoker. Let’s see how term insurance premiums vary for both individuals.

Premium for RaghavPremium for GauravDifference in Premiums
Rs 15,186Rs 9,491Rs 5,695 (60%)

There is a premium gap of Rs 5,695 between the two friends due to smoking habits.

What if I do not inform the insurer about my smoking habits?

Various things may happen if you do not inform your insurer about your smoking habits:

Policy Cancellation- Your insurer may cancel your policy if you do not inform your insurer about your smoking habits at the time of policy purchase.

Claim Rejection- The insurance company may refuse to accept your claim if you do not disclose your smoking habits to the insurer.

Charge of insurance fraud or breach- The insurance company may charge you for the insurance fraud and take legal action against you.

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Conclusion

If you are a smoker it is better to buy a term plan to give financial protection to your family. You should do your research before choosing a term plan as there are plenty of term plans available in the market. No matter which plan you choose it’s important to disclose your smoking habits and health details to your insurer while buying the term plan. We have provided a list of best-term plans for smokers above for your reference.

If you are still confused about which term plan is ideal for you as a smoker then you can contact us at PolicyX.com. One of our insurance experts will reach you shortly and help you choose the right term plan.

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Term Insurance Plan for Smokers: Faq

1. Can a smoker get term life insurance?

Yes, a smoker can get term life insurance. There are various term plans available in the market for smokers.

2. Can I hide smoking while buying term insurance?

You should not hide your smoking habits while buying a term plan as it may lead to policy discontinuance, claim rejection, and charge of insurance fraud on policyholders.

3. What are some of the best-term plans for smokers?

Some of the best-term plans for smokers include HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Super Max Life Smart Secure Plus Plan Bajaj Allianz E Touch Life Shield Tata AIA Sampoorna Raksha Supreme ICICI Prudential iProtect Smart Lumpsum Plan

4. What if I start smoking after I get life insurance?

If you start smoking after buying the term plan it is difficult for the insurance company to discover your new habit.

5. Does smoking affect your term insurance premiums?

Yes, there is a difference of 30 to 60% between the premiums charged to a smoker and a non-smoker depending on the frequency of smoking and medical health.

6. What term life insurance options are best for smokers vs non-smokers?

Standard term insurance plans are the best options for non-smokers, providing high coverage with lower premiums. However, smokers should go for plans that primarily cover tobacco users, where premiums are higher. Insurers provide customized policies for smokers with medical underwriting, ensuring appropriate protection.

7. Why term insurance premium high for smokers?

Term plan premiums are higher for smokers because of higher health risks, such as respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and lung cancer, leading to shorter life expectancy. Insurers evaluate risks before providing cover and charge higher premiums to balance increased claim proximity.

8. What are some low-cost term insurance options for smokers?

Some low-cost term insurance plan options for smokers are HDFC Life Click 2 Protect Supreme, ICICI Pru iProtect Smart Plus Term Plan, Tata AIA Sampoorna Raksha Promise, SBI Life Smart Shield Plus, and Bajaj Life eTouch II.

9. Do smokers need to buy more than one term insurance policy?

Smokers need one appropriate term plan, not multiple. Premiums will increase by 30–40% more.

10. Why do smokers pay higher premiums for term life insurance?

Smokers pay higher premiums because of higher mortality, actual risk pooling, disease risk, and profitability needs.

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