How To Get Life Insurance With E-Cigarrete Use [2024]

Tobacco/ nicotine use is the leading cause of avoidable death in the U.S. Smoking alone causes over 480,000 deaths each year, according to The Centers for Disease Control. Also, life expectancy for smokers is about ten years shorter than for nonsmokers. Yikes.

Of course, life insurance companies are well aware of these number and charge tobacco/nicotine users more money for term life insurance policies. A lot more. For example, a healthy, 40-year old man will pay $34.00 per month for a $500,000 / 20-year term life policy. A tobacco user? $147.00 per month. Almost 4.5 times as much.

These tobacco rates are reserved for anyone using any kind of nicotine-based product. Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, patches, gum… You name it. All of these will land you in smoker/tobacco/nicotine purgatory.

Read more: Life Insurance for Smokers

What About Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices?

Ah, yes. These relatively new alternatives to traditional cigarettes have become quite popular since their arrival in the U.S. in 2008. According to data from the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association (yes, it’s real), as of July 2014, there were 2.5 million electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette) users in the U.S. Sales of e-cigarettes are estimated to top $1.7 billion in 2014, up from $1.0 billion last year.

Not to mention that ‘vape’ was named The Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year just yesterday.

While lauded by many as an effective way to quit smoking, e-cigarettes have also been castigated by others as a dangerous gateway for children and teenagers. The CDC estimates that e-cigarette experimentation among U.S. middle and high school students doubled during 2011-2012. This lead to approximately 1.78 million students using e-cigarettes by 2012. (For more information, read our “Life Insurance for Teenagers“).

What are E-cigarettes and Vaping Devices?

Contrary to popular belief, they are not the same thing. E-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes and are sold in the same places, such as convenience stores. They are battery-powered devices that allow users to inhale vaporized liquid nicotine instead of tobacco smoke.  Nothing is burned, and no toxic tobacco smoke is produced. The user simply inhales the vapor.

The nicotine cartridges in e-cigarettes come pre-filled and must be replaced when they become empty. E-cigarettes are thought of as more disposable than vaping devices.

Vaping devices are often referred to as Advanced Personal Vaporizers, or APV’s. They differ from e-cigarettes in that they contain more sophisticated electronics that allow users to modify the power level and amount of vapor produced. APV’s also allow users to change nicotine levels and flavors as frequently as desired. The former being important as a means of gradually removing nicotine altogether.

What are the Health Risks?

This is where things get messy. The science behind the associated health risks is still emerging. Reports about the release of dangerous chemicals by e-cigarettes have not helped public perception of safety. And it seems many people are concerned that the use of e-cigarettes is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, although that may soon change. The World Health Organization is even getting in on the fight, calling for an indoor ban on e-cigarette use.

And it seems all of this uncertainty is causing many to change their initial opinions of e-cigarettes. A study published by The American Journal of Preventive Medicine last year showed a nearly 20-point drop from 2010 to 2013 in the percentage of smokers who believe e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

Andrew Taratola at Gizmodo published an extensive article earlier this year detailing what we know (and don’t know) about e-cigarettes to date. This gem stands out among the best:

“You don’t know what that is doing to your lungs,” Ray Casciari, director of the thoracic oncology program and the chief medical officer at the OC’s St. Joseph Hospital, told Forbes. “My experience over the past 35 years is that anything you put in the lungs has a chance of causing either lung damage or irritation.”

Read more: How To Get Life Insurance With Marijuana Use

So Where do Life Insurance Companies Stand?

Life insurance companies classify e-cigarettes as nicotine-based products and treat them the same way they do traditional cigarettes or chewing tobacco. If you use e-cigarettes in any form, you’ll need to answer ‘yes’ to the nicotine-use question on your application. And if you are using them, your paramed lab results will show nicotine byproducts in your urine. Learn more about the paramed exam here: What to Expect From a Life Insurance Medical Exam. (For more information, read our “How To Get Life Insurance With Chewing Tobacco Use“).

Pruco Life Insurance Company (Prudential Financial) is the only exception among the companies we offer. E-cigarette users can qualify for their Non-Smoker Plus rating class. This will depend on the frequency of use and the nicotine byproduct level in your lab results.

Eliminating tobacco/nicotine use is the best way to save your health and save money and get a lower term life insurance premium. And if using a cessation tool like e-cigarettes can help you do it, then that’s a good thing. Once you’re able to do this, you can apply to get non-tobacco rates on your policy in a little as one year.

Sources:  The Centers for Disease Control, The Huffington Post, The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, CNNMoney

Case Studies: Get Life Insurance With E-Cigarette Use

Case Study 1: John’s Journey to Quitting E-Cigarettes

John, a 45-year-old e-cigarette user, wanted to secure a term life insurance policy to protect his family. However, he was concerned about the impact of his e-cigarette use on his premiums. After researching his options, John decided to take steps to quit using e-cigarettes and improve his overall health.

He successfully quit using e-cigarettes after several months and applied for a life insurance policy. As a non-smoker, he was able to secure a lower premium rate, saving him money in the long run.

Case Study 2: Sarah’s Struggle With High Premiums

Sarah, a 35-year-old e-cigarette user, applied for a term life insurance policy to ensure financial protection for her family. However, she was shocked to discover that her premiums were significantly higher due to her e-cigarette use.

Determined to find a solution, Sarah reached out to different insurance companies and discovered one that offered a Non-Smoker Plus rating class for e-cigarette users. She provided her lab results, which showed low nicotine byproduct levels, and qualified for a lower premium rate, reducing her financial burden.

Case Study 3: Mark’s Decision to Quit E-Cigarettes

Mark, a 50-year-old e-cigarette user, had been smoking traditional cigarettes for many years before switching to e-cigarettes. Concerned about his health and the impact on his life insurance rates, Mark decided to quit using e-cigarettes altogether.

He sought support through smoking cessation programs and successfully quit vaping within a year. After demonstrating his commitment to a tobacco-free lifestyle, Mark was eligible for non-tobacco rates on his life insurance policy, providing him with peace of mind and potential cost savings.