What counts as smoking to an insurer
Insurers ask whether you have used any tobacco or nicotine product in the last 12 months. For most of them, that covers cigarettes, roll-ups, cigars, pipes and shisha. It also covers e-cigarettes and vapes, nicotine patches, gum, sprays and pouches.
That surprises plenty of people who switched to vaping to cut down. The reason is simple: insurers base their rates on nicotine use, and most do not yet separate vaping from smoking. A few insurers have their own rules for particular products, which is one reason to compare before you apply.
- Cigarettes, roll-ups and cigars
- Vapes and e-cigarettes containing nicotine
- Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and sprays
- Pipes, shisha and chewing tobacco
- Nicotine pouches
How you become a non-smoker for insurance
The usual rule is 12 months without any nicotine at all. If you stopped smoking but still use patches or a vape, the clock has not started yet for most insurers. Once you have gone a full year with no nicotine, you can answer the smoking question as a non-smoker.
If you have quit recently, you do not have to wait a year to get cover. You can take a policy now at smoker rates and then, once you reach 12 months nicotine-free, ask the insurer whether it will move you to non-smoker rates. Some insurers do this; others would need you to take out a new policy. We can check which option suits you.
What smoking does to your terms
Smoker rates are higher than non-smoker rates for the same cover, because nicotine raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung conditions and several cancers. How much you smoke and for how long can also feed into the decision, as can any related condition such as high blood pressure or a chest problem.
Insurers rarely decline someone for smoking alone. If you have a smoking-related illness, though, the insurer will look at that condition in its own right, which can lead to a loading, an exclusion on critical illness cover or a postponement.
Why honesty about smoking protects your family
Saying you are a non-smoker when you are not might lower the premium today, but insurers treat it as a serious misrepresentation. When someone claims, the insurer checks medical records, which often note smoking status. If your records show you smoked or vaped when you said you did not, the insurer can refuse the claim or pay only part of it.
Some insurers also ask for a saliva or urine test to check for cotinine, a substance your body makes from nicotine. Telling the truth means the cover you pay for is cover your family can rely on.
Occasional smoking and other products
If you only smoke at parties or have the odd cigar on holiday, you may wonder whether that counts. For most insurers it does. The question asks whether you have used any nicotine in the last 12 months, and a single cigarette at a wedding means the answer is yes.
Answer the question as it is written. If you are unsure whether something counts, such as a vape without nicotine or a herbal cigarette, ask your adviser before you apply. Insurers vary in how they treat nicotine-free products, so it is worth checking first.
Many applications ask about recreational drugs as a separate question. If you smoke cannabis mixed with tobacco, the tobacco counts as smoking, and you should answer both questions honestly.
How Hi Tomorrow helps smokers and vapers
We compare the insurers on our panel to find terms that fit your habits, including any that have a different view on particular products. If you are planning to quit, we can talk about timing, and set a reminder for when you reach 12 months so you can ask about non-smoker rates.
Our advisers will not judge you. We just need accurate answers so we can find cover that will pay out. Quitting is good for you, and it can also bring your premium down, which is a nice bonus.