By What Method a smoker can buy health insurance

One of the biggest myths in personal finance is that smokers can't get health insurance. Contrary to popular belief, health insurance companies do offer coverage to smokers albeit with different terms and conditions as compared to non-smokers. Do keep in mind that being a smoker may force you to avail health insurance at a higher premium. However, this must not deter you from availing health insurance as smokers are more prone to lifestyle diseases than non-smokers.

How can a smoker get a health insurance policy?

Health insurance companies define a smoker as a person who uses nicotine in any form. Insurers insist on medical tests to detect regular smokers and determine the premiums for coverage. Traces of nicotine can be detected in your blood, urine, hair, and saliva. The length of time nicotine stays in your system depends on how often you smoke, age, and general health condition.

Insurers ask about your smoking habits, when you sign up for a health insurance plan. The common questions are: Do you smoke? Have you been using tobacco in the last 6 months? Insurers ask for the number of cigarettes smoked or health conditions suffered because of the smoking habit. If you have declared the smoking habit, insurers may insist on medical tests to meet their underwriting norms. They also consider the age and sum assured when offering a health insurance plan. It is advisable for a ..

A smoker must update the insurer on lifestyle changes to ensure he doesn't face any problems during claim settlement. Updation on lifestyle changes could be an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked or deteriorating health.

The health insurance company decides premiums based on the state of your health. The insurability of smokers is determined by the seriousness of pre-existing lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Insurers may refuse policies to smokers suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

Non-smokers with no pre-existing illnesses can easily avail health insurance with minimum documentation. If you smoke a few cigarettes a day, suffer no pre-existing illnesses and are generally fit, you can easily avail health insurance. Any complications like a lung condition suffered by smoking at a later time are covered in the health insurance plan. Health insurance companies reject proposals of those who smoke more than 20-40 cigarettes a day. **Are there different health insurance plans for smokers and non-smokers? Health insurance companies offer the same plans to both smokers and non-smokers. Premiums are loaded on those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day. If you smoke 2-4 cigarette packets a day, health insurance Companies may reject the proposal.

Insurers look at daily tobacco consumption and status of a person's health. Many health insurance companies insist on medical tests if a prospect is over 40 years or seeks a high sum assured. If the medical test reveals a particular health complication, that specific ailment is excluded in the initial years of the plan.

Chain smokers and addicts may face an outright rejection. Many insurers don't insist on a higher premium for smokers unless there are health complications. For example, Religare Health Insurance Company doesn't load premiums for smokers. The underwriting norms vary across health insurance companies. This is why you have some health insurance companies charging different premiums for smokers and non-smokers. Taking up smoking cessation programs by insurers lowers health insurance premiums for smokers. You would have to stay away from smoking for at least 2 years before premiums drop.