Health Insurance Articles
Health Insurance for Smokers
2010-06-01
Smokers pay more for health insurance than non-smokers, and in fact, they have their own special insurance designation. A health insurance rate for a typical smoker can be seven times what it would be for a non-smoker, simply due to the potential dangers of tobacco use. However, that doesn't mean that smokers need to sit back and take their high rates without a fight--it's possible to find a relatively low health insurance quote, and even if you're an active tobacco user, there are still ways to decrease your premiums and save substantial amounts of money.
This begins with comparison shopping, which is an essential tactic to explore before buying or updating any policy. Smokers should look online for several quotes, and compare both the premiums and the coverage levels of each policy. Be sure to answer the questions on online forms honestly, and never hide the fact that you're a smoker, or you'll just temporarily lead your potential insurers. They will find out at some point that you smoke, whether it's due to a smoking-related illness or a routine check-up. When you've gathered several quotes, you can sometimes negotiate a better premium. Call a few of the top insurance companies that you've found, and discuss the rates of their competitors. Ask whether they offer any special types of discount programs, such as family plans. Even if you smoke, you can take advantage of insurance discounts to get a bit of relief on your policy's premiums. Keep yourself in overall good physical condition with consistent exercise and diet. This will help to alleviate some of the effects of smoking on your health insurance premium. Ask your doctor for other tips; the healthier you become, the less your insurance policy will cost, and although smoking is certainly going to have a detrimental effect on your premiums, that effect can be minimized.
Ultimately, the best way for a smoker to find a low health insurance rate is to stop smoking. If you're interested in quitting, talk to a doctor about nicotine replacement therapies and other potentially successful techniques. Tell your insurer that you're quitting, and get regular checkups for several months after you quit. Over time, your health insurance premiums will gradually drop, eventually getting down to a comparable level to non-smoker premiums. As smoking permanently affects your health, you may not be able to get full relief from the effect of the habit on your insurance policy, but you can certainly diminish it. Quitting is difficult, but the benefits are immense--for both your health and your health insurance quote.
