Close ILTakeCare Suggestion
IL TakeCare app – For all your insurance & wellness needs

Policy purchase, claims, renewal & more

 

Smokers Avoid Health Cover

Smokers often hesitate to opt for a health cover. Know the reasons for this and how smoking can affect your premiums.

  • 11 Feb 2016
  • 3 min read
  • 579 views

Tobacco use is no reason to skip health insurance


According to an all India survey conducted by Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies – Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, there are around 206 million adult users of smokeless tobacco in India, a figure that is much higher than the 111.2 million tobacco smokers. As per an ICICI Lombard survey, work-related stress (35%) and peer pressure (38%) are the leading causes for taking up smoking. These figures are dire especially when it comes to availing health insurance.

Why Are Smokers Reluctant to Buy Health Insurance?


57% smokers in India do not have a health insurance, as per a recent survey of 1011 participants by ICICI Lombard. In such a case, the smoker is not covered for any unfortunate health eventualities. This is far more grievous if the smoker happens to be the only working member and provider in his family. The smoker and their family are not covered for any medical eventualities.
Smokers generally believe that their insurer will consider all arising future ailments to be a result of their unhealthy habit and reject claims. This is the most common fear stopping them from purchasing health insurance. Such apprehensions are of course unfounded.

Smoking Effects on Premium


Insurance companies define a smoker as anyone who uses any form of nicotine. This includes cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and even nicotine patches or gum.
Being a smoker or having pre-existing ailments are not direct grounds for rejection by your health insurer. However, if smoking leads to further health complications, the insurer might be apprehensive about approving your application.
It is no surprise that smoking is the leading cause for cancer and several other serious diseases. Smoking is also the leading factor for 80% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Additionally, smokers are 16 times more prone to the risk of heart attack. This liability is not lost on insurers. They charge higher premiums to nullify the effects of raised health risks and shorter life expectancy.
The increased premiums for smokers are not at a flat rate. Different levels of smokers have proportionate rates of premium, with a current chronic smoker however paying the highest. The rate of premium for smokers can be as much as 56% higher than that for non-smokers. Some companies offer incentives and discounts to non-smokers to discourage the habit and resulting liability.

Also read:

Mandatory Disclosure


Higher premiums are no reason to hide your smoking habit in your policy documents. This amounts to fraud. Your insurer is entitled to reject related claims if any information provided is found to be untrue. Moreover, insurers do not issue policies without a medical test beyond a certain limit of sum insured.

Quitting Is Easier On Your Pocket


Your premium payouts will significantly decrease if you quit smoking for reasons beyond medical condition. Insurers consider smokers who quit as ‘non-smokers’, subject to a certain period of abstinence.
Quitting is the best option to eliminate overpaying your health premium. It is easier on your pocket, kinder to your health, and increases your chances of availing coverage for ailments and diseases under health insurance.

  • Looking for tailored advice?

    Schedule a call with our insurance advisors

  • OR
  • Call us:

    1800 2666
Please enter valid name
Please enter a valid mobile number
Please select the Category

Subscribe to our newsletter

Understand insurance better by reading our helpful guides, articles, blogs and other information.

Please enter valid name
Please enter valid Email

Error message here