Simran has over 3 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto is to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.
Anchita has over 6 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.
Updated on Apr 08, 2025 2 min read
Health Insurance for Smokers
In India, almost 35% of the total population are smokers. Varying from our health habits and lifestyle, smoking can cause deadly health complications. Therefore, securing health insurance for smokers can be very difficult. Either they will get less overall coverage, reduced rewards and benefits or have to pay higher premiums.
Read below to cut down on the confusion and myths about health insurance for smokers.
Can a Smoker get a Health Insurance Policy?
Yes, a smoker can buy a health insurance policy. According to the mandate of IRDAI, every individual has the right to apply for it.
However, it depends upon the insurance company to keep your medical tests intact before providing you with a plan. But the premiums or the maximum amount of sum insured largely depends on the plan you're going with.
Why do premiums increase in the case of a Smoker's Health Insurance?
Smoking is hazardous to health, it can even cause a person's death. So smokers are widely prone to critical illnesses or several diseases including- cancer, lung dysfunction, infections, Crohn's, and many more.
Hence the more times they get ill, the more they tend to make insurance claims. So insurance companies charge them almost double the premiums of a non-smoker. Thus, they're a subject of risk for an insurer, leading them to pay hefty
premiums.
The plan comes in 2 different variants offering a sum assured up to 1 Cr. The policyholder can cover his/her entire family under one policy.
Unique Features
Critical illness covered
AYUSH treatment covered
AYUSH treatment covered
What are the benefits of getting Health Insurance for Smokers?
Buying a health insurance policy for smokers is a blessing. As it has multiple layers of protection, some of them are listed below:
Zero-cost health assessments
Going through a full-fledged check-up regularly or say in six months can be very costly. Being a smoker, a health insurance policy will cover all your medical bills and help you avoid out-of-pocket expenses of thousands of rupees.
Monetary support
At times of critical illness or an unforeseen emergency, you might not be able to bear all the medical expenses. That's where an insurance
company puts its foot forward. It can benefit and take care of you in such circumstances by providing you with funds.
Tax benefits
Depending upon your plan's terms and the number of members who are insured; you can get the benefits of tax exemptions under Section 80D
of the Income Tax Act 1961.
Health and longevity
Not only for a financial purpose but quitting that extra pair of cigarettes and cutting off nicotine from your life can have a
great impact on your life. The average life span could be increased if you stay alive with a healthy lifestyle.
Compare different insurance providers online. You can check out different plans on Policyx.com as well
Quick tips to consider before buying Health Insurance
Provide accurate information to your insurer about how long or how much you smoke to get a routine health assessment.
Ensure transparency between you and your insurance providers to get maximum benefits
Compare before settling down for a health plan if you're a smoker
Check coverage specifications, such that you can get a clear picture of what's covered or what's excluded from your policy
Go with affordable options as they can hugely impact your premium amount and the amount insured
Thoughts to Rest Upon
Seeking a health insurance plan for smokers might feel a challenging yet essential part as they're more resistant to a healthy lifestyle. So it's always a good idea to stay fit and healthy. Prioritizing your health in the first place
can give you the freedom to live more healthily and for a long.
Also, don't let these challenges deter you from taking a healthy path forward. Withstanding the right coverage of health insurance, this task can become a lot easier to help you embrace a happy life afterward.
Health Insurance for Smokers: FAQs
1. Can I quit smoking even after buying a health insurance policy?
Quitting smoking will provide you with multiple health benefits in the long run. It can absolutely tend to a premium reduction over a period of time.
2. What will happen if I hide my smoking habit from the Insurance company while applying for a policy?
If a smoker tries to withhold his smoking habit from their insurer, this tempts a negation in your policy. It may lead your claims to be rejected and/or you can get into legal trouble as well.
3. Are smoking-related pre-existing health issues covered in a policy?
Like non-smokers, if smokers are found with any pre-existing conditions like hypertension or diabetes, the insurer may ask for multiple medical tests. After this only it'll be decided whether you'll get a policy or not.
4. I'm a smoker, will the premium of my health insurance be higher?
Yes definitely. Smokers have a broader risk of health and they're more prone to deadly diseases. So premiums in their case are typically higher than non-smokers.
5. Is it possible to switch from a smoker to a non-smoker's premium after quitting smoking?
Most of the insurance companies in India, don't allow to change the status of a smoker to non-smoker in their policy.
6. Can I get health insurance if I have smoked vape?
Yes, whether you prefer smoking cigarettes or vaping, health insurance is available. But, the premiums will be high in both cases.
7. What happens if you start smoking after getting health insurance?
You need to inform the insurer during the time of renewal.
8. How long does nicotine stay in the body?
Generally, nicotine will leave the blood within 1 to 3 days.
Simran has over 3 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto is to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.
No Gimmicks,No Spam. Genuine Advice from an Insurance Expert.
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