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Life Insurance for Smokers

At The Insurance Surgery, we understand the unique challenges faced by smokers when it comes to life insurance. Our mission is to provide life insurance for smokers that offers financial protection for you and your loved ones.

70% of people who get declined elsewhere
get accepted through us

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What Is Life Insurance for a Smoker?

Life insurance for smokers is a form of cover designed to provide financial protection for smokers and their loved ones in the event of the policyholder’s passing. These policies are tailored to meet the unique needs and health considerations of individuals who smoke.

 You may be eligible for our cover if you fall into any of the following categories:

Smokers of all ages, including those who have recently taken up smoking or have been smoking for many years.

Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions related to smoking, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, or heart disease.

Those seeking specialised insurance solutions that cater to their smoking habits and the associated health risks.

How Does Smoker Life Insurance Work?

STEP 1
Complete form
STEP 2
Speak to us about your needs
STEP 3
We’ll search the market
STEP 4
We recommend the best product to suit your needs
STEP 5
Tell us when you want it to start!

At The Insurance Surgery, we have built a reputation for excellence in providing life insurance for smokers. During your phone consultation, we will ask the necessary questions to understand exactly what type of insurance policy is best suited to you. 

There are a range of potential policies available for smokers. Let’s take a look at what could be on offer to you.

Term Life Insurance.

Term life insurance will pay out a lump sum if you pass away during the term (duration) of your policy. A term policy will run for an average of 10 – 30 years.

Whole of Life Insurance.

Offering lifelong cover, whole of life insurance has no term duration. This guarantees financial security as your loved ones receive a lump sum when you pass.

Critical Illness Cover.

In addition to life insurance, we offer critical illness cover, which provides a lump sum payment if you are diagnosed with a critical illness that is covered in the policy.

If this already seems complicated enough, don’t panic—one of our experts will be available to advise on the policy that best suits your smoking-related life insurance needs.

  • 15 Minute Read Time

Do I Need Life Insurance?

Life insurance, also known as life assurance, is a policy where, in exchange for an agreed monthly payment, the insurer provides a lump sum if you pass away or are diagnosed with 12 months or less to live.

Read More

Why Choose The Insurance Surgery?

Rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.

We take pride in the experience that we offer, guaranteeing excellent service at all times.

25 years Experience.

With 25 years of specialist life and protection experience, we can find the perfect policy for you.

Access to a range of insurers.

With a broad selection of partners, we are well-equipped to find the best insurance deals for you.

Award-winning broker.

Known for making insurance simple, The Insurance Surgery is a trusted, award-winning broker.

How Much Does Life Insurance for Smokers Cost?

The cost of smoker life insurance can vary depending on several factors, including your age, health status, smoking habits, and the level of cover you require. However, at The Insurance Surgery, we provide competitive rates by working with a panel of reputable insurance providers.

Whilst it’s challenging to provide an exact estimate without knowing your specific circumstances, we can give you a general idea of what to expect.

Your life insurance quote can depend on a wide range of circumstances, including factors like:

Your age

Your lifestyle

Your family’s medical history

Smoker Status

The length of your policy

Your occupation

Medical conditions

For a clearer idea of the average cost of life insurance, visit our Guide.

Smoker Life Insurance Example 1 Cost

Kaya, aged 43, is a smoker. She was looking for £35,000 in life insurance to cover her mortgage but faced challenges due to her diagnosis of stage 3 cancer and HIV. Other brokers declined her application, making it difficult to secure coverage.

However, we were able to find a policy that not only came in under her budget of £25.00 but also provided a higher payout of £45,000—allowing £10,000 to be left to her husband in the event of her passing.

We found Jim the policy below:

monthly premiums

£22.81

Pay Out:

£45,000

Duration Of Policy:

17 years

photo of a woman

Smoker Life Insurance Example 2 Cost

Maria is 30 years old and a smoker. She wanted £190,000 in life cover to support her husband and contribute to their mortgage if she passed away. While she already has life assurance through her employer, a tailored life insurance policy provides additional financial security—ensuring her cover remains in place even if she changes jobs.

We found Maria the policy below:

monthly premiums

£9.07

pay Out:

£100k

Duration Of Policy:

35 Years

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Speak to our team of experts for FREE
specialist advice today.

Monday to Thursday:

9:00am – 8:00pm

Friday:

9:00am – 3:00pm
Get a Quote
Call us on 0800 083 2829

Facts About Life Insurance.

Life insurance can serve multiple purposes, including income replacement, wealth transfer, estate planning, and business succession. But how does life insurance shape up with the UK population?

7.5 million families

in the UK have no life insurance or critical illness cover.

£40,000

The average life insurance policy in the UK covers only about £40,000.

28%

of UK adults believe life insurance is too expensive.

30%

of people get life insurance due to becoming a parent.

Forbes Advisor, 2025

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Price Promise.

Obtain a cheaper quote elsewhere, we’ll beat
the price and also give you a £50 gift card!

We are committed to offering unbeatable prices. Our
Price Promise ensures that we will find you the right
cover for your circumstances.

*Please see the Price Promise Terms & Conditions for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can smokers get life insurance?

Absolutely. At The Insurance Surgery, we can help smokers access a range of life insurance policies, including term life insurance, whole life insurance, and critical illness cover. Our advisers will help you choose the cover that best suits your needs and budget.

Life insurance prices can differ from person to person, but it is no secret that smokers can generally expect to pay more than non-smokers. Smoking is considered a high-risk factor by insurance providers, as it increases the likelihood of developing various health conditions, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems. As a result, smokers typically pay higher premiums for life insurance than non-smokers.

If you begin to smoke regularly after getting life insurance, we advise contacting your insurer and letting them know about the potential changes in your health related to your new lifestyle choices. It is not uncommon for policies to require you to contact the insurer after beginning to smoke.

Yes, many insurers now consider vaping a form of smoking as it can have an effect on your physical health. We recommend checking your insurance policy to be certain, but generally, vaping will be classed as smoking and will lead to you paying higher premiums.

Life insurance is unique – just like you.

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Life Insurance for Self-Employed

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Income Protection

Find Out More

Life Insurance for Smokers

Find Out More

Speak to our team of experts for FREE
specialist advice today.

Monday to Thursday:

9:00am – 8:00pm

Friday:

9:00am – 3:00pm
Get a Quote
Call us on 0800 083 2829

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Speak to our team of experts for FREE
specialist advice today.

Monday to Thursday:

9:00am – 8:00pm

Friday:

9:00am – 3:00pm
Get a Quote
Call us on 0800 083 2829

Speak to our team of experts for FREE
specialist advice today.

Monday to Thursday:

9:00am – 8:00pm

Friday:

9:00am – 3:00pm
Get a Quote
Call us on 0800 083 2829
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Copyright © 2025 The Insurance Surgery Ltd. The Insurance Surgery is authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. We are entered on the Financial Services Register No 401425 at https://www.fca.org.uk Registered in England and Wales. No 5137288. Registered and trading from 2nd Floor, Pickford Street Mill, Pickford Street, Macclesfield, SK11 6JD The guidance and/or advice contained within the website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at customers in the UK.

Price promise terms & conditions: Please read our price promise terms and conditions which will tell you more about our promise.