Can A Smoker Buy Health Insurance ?
Updated On May 11, 2021
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One of the biggest myths surrounding insurance is that smoker’s cannot buy health insurance. The fact is that your smoking habit does not deter you from investing in a health insurance policy and you will receive complete coverage from insurance companies too. While it is true that you will have to pay a higher premium than non-smokers you should not rule out the option of financially securing yourself based on this reason alone. In this article we are going to tell you how you can buy health insurance even if you are a smoker.
Can A Smoker Buy Health Insurance ?
Contrary to popular notion, health insurance companies do offer complete coverage for smokers, albeit with a higher rate of premium. The points below highlight how a smoker can avail the benefits of a health insurance policy.
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Disclose Relevant Information
The key to getting health insurance if you are a smoker is by disclosing all relevant information. Irrespective of being a smoker or a non-smoker, misinformation can lead to legal consequences and cancellation of your claim amount. Therefore, you must inform the insurer about your smoking habits while filing the application. Nowadays, insurance providers have also become stringent with their investigation procedure and you must be clear about your smoking habits.
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Opt For Medical Check Up
If you are a smoker, insurers will insist on medical tests to detect the amount of nicotine in your body and then decide the coverage and rate of premium. Do not shy away from fear of getting your policy rejected. If no underlying medical conditions or comorbidities in your medical history are detected after testing, you are liable to complete coverage from any health insurance policy. Even if a lung or heart condition is diagnosed, it will be covered by your health insurance provider and you can also consider getting a critical illness policy for the newly diagnosed illness.
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Keep Your Insurer Informed
As a smoker you need to keep your insurer informed about your lifestyle. Smoking can never be encouraged and all health insurance companies offer incentives for giving up this habit. Hence, for general health concerns as well as for reducing your premium amount, you are advised to reduce smoking and convey the information to your insurance provider as well. If there is a spike in smoking, it can lead to your policy withdrawal.
How Much is the Health Insurance Premium For Smokers?
While the rate of premium paid by smokers is a little higher than those paid by non-smokers, it is not that high. Sometimes, the same health insurance policy is sold to smokers and non-smoker by health insurance companies and the amount of premium is increased only if the company finds out that your health is rapidly deteriorating due to smoking. If you smoke 2 to 4 cigarettes a day, it is not going to affect your coverage or see an increase in the rate of premium.
Take Away
As you can see, availing health insurance policy for a smoker is not difficult at all but certain restrictions do exist. In case you are a chain smoker and smoke about 20 to 40 cigarettes a day, a health insurance company can reject your policy application. Everyone knows that smoking is injurious to health and it would be wise to give up on that habit as soon as possible but in the meantime, do not give in to popular myths that say you cannot buy a health insurance policy for yourself, only because you like an occasional puff!
Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
