Cigar smokers NEVER pay smoker rates for life insurance (as long as you follow our guidance).
You don’t have to pay high smoker rates for life insurance. Whether you smoke occasionally or daily, we’ll help you find affordable life insurance coverage.
Let’s get you covered with the best non-smoker rates available!
Cigar Smoker Life Insurance Expertise
Since 1998, we’ve been helping cigar smokers find cheap life insurance at non-smoker rates. Whether you smoke cigars occasionally or daily, we offer life insurance for cigar smokers tailored to your needs.
We have great non-tobacco options for all scenarios, including:
- Daily Cigar Smokers
- Occasional Cigar Smokers
- Celebratory Cigar Smokers
- Positive Nicotine Test Results
- Medical Record Discrepancies
- Cigar Smokers who Use Other Tobacco, Smoke Marijuana, etc.
- Getting Non-Smoker Rates After Smoker Rate Approval
We’ve seen it all and know how to help you get the best rate available based on your cigar-smoking.
We work for you, not the life insurance company.
2024 Cigar Smoking Rules by Company
We’ve summarized the most competitive life insurance companies for cigars here.
| Company | Pfd Best | Pfd | Std Plus | Std |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corebridge | 1 Per Week | 1 Per Week | 1 Per Week | 1 Per Week |
| AXA | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month | n/a | 1 Per Month |
| Banner | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month |
| Brighthouse | n/a | 4 Per Year | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month |
| John Hancock | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month | 2 Per Month | NO LIMIT |
| Lincoln | 1 Per Month | 2 Per Month | n/a | NO LIMIT |
| Minnesota | 1 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month |
| Nationwide | 1 Per Month | 5 Per Month | n/a | 5 Per Month |
| Pacific Life | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month | 1 Per Month |
| Principal | 1 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month |
| Protective | 12 Per Year | 2 Per Month | n/a | 2 Per Month |
| Prudential | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | NO LIMIT | NO LIMIT |
| Symetra | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month |
| Omaha | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month | 2 Per Month |
Based on your cigar smoking history, we’ll tell you who the best life insurance companies are.
Whether you want term life, universal, or whole life, you’ll get quotes from the most competitive companies.
Daily Cigar Smokers
Even if you smoke cigars daily, you can still get non-smoker life insurance rates.
The three best life insurance companies for daily cigar smokers are:
- Prudential – Non-Smoker Plus rate
- Lincoln National – Standard Non-Tobacco rate
- John Hancock – Standard Non-Smoker rate
Prudential offers its “Non-Smoker Plus” rate, while Lincoln and John Hancock offer its “Standard Non-Tobacco” rate class for daily cigar smoking.
Daily Cigar Smoking Life Insurance Rates
| Age | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Lincoln – $37 | Lincoln – $67 |
| 40 | Prudential – $44 | Lincoln – $77 |
| 45 | Prudential – $62 | Prudential – $109 |
| 50 | Prudential – $88 | Prudential – $154 |
| 55 | Lincoln – $132 | Prudential – $249 |
| 60 | Prudential – $220 | Prudential – $396 |
| 65 | Prudential – $664 | Prudential – $1310 |
As long as there has been no cigarette smoking or e-cigarette use within the past 12 months, it’s not a problem to get the above rates.
A paramed exam is usually required to get the daily non-smoker rate, even if you would otherwise qualify for accelerated underwriting.
Let us know if you use recreational marijuana, as different underwriting rules apply.
Occasional Cigar Smoking
If you smoke an occasional cigar, have good health, and have a negative urine sample, you may qualify for a “Preferred” or “Preferred best” life insurance rate if you:
- Admit how often you smoke cigars on the application.
- Provide a negative urine sample.
- Have medical records that don’t contradict the cigar frequency.
- Have not received a tobacco rate from another company recently.
The Best Life Insurance Companies for Occasional Cigar Smokers are:
| Company | Frequency | Rate Class |
|---|---|---|
| Corebridge Financial | 1 Cigar Per Week | Preferred Plus |
| Banner Life | 1 Cigar Per Month | Preferred Plus |
| Protective Life | 6 Cigars Per Year | Select Preferred |
| Prudential | 2 Cigars Per Month | Preferred Best |
If you’re over 40 or over 50 and worried about rates, don’t be. We know how to get the best options for life insurance for smokers over 40 and life insurance for smokers over 50.
Banner Life offers a 40-year term life insurance policy that offers up to $500k of life insurance with no exam if you have current medical records and lab tests available.
Occasional Cigar Pitfalls
The following factors may ruin your day with the wrong company:
- Recent approval at tobacco rates – Companies check the MIB and may hold this against you.
- Other Tobacco Use- Limits the choice of companies.
- Medical Records – Will your medical records match the usage of your cigar on the application?
- High-risk medical conditions
- Niche programs like Costco life and AICPA Life have less favorable underwriting rules and more restrictive build requirements.
- Recent Lab Results—If you have positive lab results from other companies or your medical records, they could tank your rate!
We’ll tell you which life insurers are best for you and provide the rules upfront so you don’t overpay.
Celebratory Cigars
A friend’s wedding, a divorce, the birth of a baby, or celebrating your spouse’s new job are all excellent reasons for camaraderie, sometimes including the occasional celebratory cigar.
It will not be a problem with 99% of the right life insurers.
Just let us know, and we’ll steer you to the correct term life companies.
Ensure your lab results are negative and admit the celebratory cigar on the application.
Former Cigar Smokers
This applies to daily cigar smokers who recently quit.
During the first 12 months after you quit, the best rate opportunity will be the same as a daily cigar smoker.
After 12 months, we can get you the best non-tobacco life insurance rate classes with some companies as long as you would otherwise qualify for the best rates.
Other Tobacco Use with Cigars
The companies available are limited if you smoke cigars and use other types of tobacco.
Prudential at their Non-Smoker Plus rate is the best option for cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, nicotine gum, and nicotine patches.
Lincoln National and John Hancock will offer standard non-tobacco rates.
Cigarettes or vape tobacco receive smoker rates with all companies.
Companies changed their stance on vaping a few years ago because of the long-term health risks described by the CDC.
Cigar Smokers Lab Tests
Are you cheating if you provide a negative urine sample to the insurance company?
No, not at all!
Cigar smoking guidelines are published and provided to us by life insurance companies.
As long as you follow the rules and don’t cheat you’ll get the non-tobacco rate you deserve.
About Underwriting
At RiskQuoter, we take pride in understanding how tobacco underwriting works.
This is why so many people trust us for life insurance quotes.
But what is underwriting? Underwriting is simply assessing a potential client’s risk to the insurance company. The life insurance underwriting process begins with a life insurance application.
Your application will include beneficiary information, family medical history, occupation, i.e., police officer, and medical history, including details about your cigar usage.
FAQ
You have questions about life insurance for cigar smokers, and we have the answers!
Final Words
We’ll get you the best cigar-smoking term life insurance rates available! That’s what we do.
So whether you need $1,000,000 life insurance or something bigger or smaller, request your quotes today.
