In 2025, life insurance has become more personalised, with insurers paying close attention to lifestyle choices when calculating premiums. One of the biggest influencers is smoking. If you’re a smoker, you’re likely paying more than a non-smoker for the same cover. But can quitting smoking or making other lifestyle changes lower your life insurance premiums? Yes—but it requires time, proof, and often a review of your current policy terms.
How lifestyle habits affect your premium
When you apply for a life insurance policy, insurers group applicants by risk. Smokers are considered high risk due to their greater chance of developing health conditions like cancer or heart disease. This results in significantly higher premium rates—often up to double what a non-smoker pays.
However, insurers are increasingly recognising the impact of positive lifestyle changes. Quitting smoking is one such change that may qualify you for a lower premium. But this benefit isn’t immediate.
To be reclassified as a non-smoker, insurers typically expect:
- A minimum of 12 months of being completely tobacco-free
- No usage of cigarettes, cigars, nicotine patches or e-cigarettes
- A health reassessment or medical test to verify status
Once you meet these conditions, you can request a policy review. Some insurers may allow premium recalculations on the same policy, while others might require you to take a new plan.
Other healthy habits that may help
It’s not just smoking. A number of lifestyle choices can make you eligible for lower premiums or preferred rates when purchasing or renewing your policy:
- Regular physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy BMI and diet
- Routine health screenings showing stable or improving vitals
- Managing chronic conditions through prescribed medication or therapy
- Reduced alcohol consumption and better sleep routines
Some insurers in 2025 offer wellness-linked plans that track your lifestyle through digital health apps or regular check-ups. In return, they may offer small discounts or reward points that reduce your premium over time.
How insurance policy assignment fits in
When considering changes to your life insurance, especially after lifestyle improvements, it may also help to look into insurance policy assignment. This allows you to transfer the policy rights to another individual, lender, or trust. While it won’t directly change your smoker status, it could help you restructure your insurance portfolio or apply for a new plan under more favourable terms, including a lower premium.
This is particularly useful if you’re planning to use your policy as financial backing for a loan or estate planning. With an improved health profile, you may qualify for a better deal when you reassign or reapply for new plans.
Things to remember before switching or reassessing
Before acting on any lifestyle-linked change in your policy, keep these points in mind:
- Always check if your insurer allows mid-policy reassessment. Not all do.
- Do not cancel your existing policy until the new one is approved.
- Be transparent about your smoking history, even if you’ve quit.
- Understand any waiting periods or conditions attached to premium changes.
- If your policy includes maturity benefits or savings components, factor in their value before making a switch.
Conclusion
Quitting smoking or adopting healthier lifestyle habits can definitely lead to reduced life insurance premiums, but patience and documentation are essential. Most insurers will only consider you a non-smoker after a year without tobacco, and some may require fresh underwriting.
Incorporating better habits today could mean lower financial strain tomorrow—especially for long-term policies. Whether you’re reviewing an existing plan or shopping for a new one, healthier living is a valuable asset. And with proper use of tools like insurance policy assignment, you can align your savings and protection goals more efficiently for the years ahead.
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