Best life insurance for smokers in Canada (2026 Guide)

Smokers in Canada are eligible for life insurance, just like non-smokers. While smoking does not prevent you from getting insurance, it can significantly affect how much you pay. For most Canadian smokers, term life insurance offers the best balance of affordability and coverage.

However, if you are seeking lifelong coverage in exchange for significantly higher premiums, whole life coverage might be the right choice for you. Alternatively, your health status or pre-existing conditions might limit your choices.

Can you get life insurance as a smoker in Canada?

Yes, you can get life insurance as a smoker in Canada. However, you will typically pay higher premiums than a non-smoker because the use of tobacco and other nicotine products increases the risk of serious health conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer. This leads to increase risk of death and reduced life expectancy.

Most Canadian life insurance companies offer coverage to smokers, including both term and permanent life insurance policies. However, smokers require additional medical underwriting or tests to assess their risk profile.

What is the best life insurance for smokers in Canada?

The best life insurance for smokers in Canada depends on your financial goals, family situation, and smoking habits. Policies from leading insurers such as Canada Life, Beneva, Wawanesa, and Empire Life offer unique features that make them well-suited for smokers seeking financial protection.

Here’s a quick overview of life insurance for smokers in Canada:

How does life insurance for smokers work?

Life insurance for smokers works similarly to a regular life insurance policy. As a smoker, you decide how much coverage you need and choose the type of policy that best fits your goals. Once that is done, you complete the required documentation and pay the premiums.

However, depending on the insurer and policy type, you may also be asked to complete a medical exam or provide additional medical information before your application is approved. During underwriting, insurers will consider several factors, including:

• Age
• Overall health
• The type of tobacco or nicotine products you use
• How frequently you smoke or use nicotine
• Duration of nicotine use or time since you quit smoking
• Your medical history

These factors let the insurer determine your risk profile and calculate appropriate premiums. In many cases, fully underwritten plans offer more competitive rates than simplified or guaranteed issue policies for individuals with a complex medical history.

How does smoking affect my life insurance?

Smoking increases your life insurance premiums since it is associated with a higher risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and certain cancers. You may also be required to undergo additional testing for cotinine and nicotine use.

As a result, insurers classify most smokers as higher-risk applicants and charge higher premiums. In Canada, smokers typically pay between 50% and 200% more for life insurance than comparable non-smokers.

Does marijuana affect your life insurance premiums?

Yes, marijuana may affect your life insurance premiums, depending on the volume and method of consumption. Non-nicotine cannabis is generally assessed separately from tobacco consumption. Additionally, the frequency thresholds and the form (smoking, edibles, vaping) vary by insurer.

However, consuming marijuana more regularly may lead to higher life insurance premiums or make you ineligible for fully underwritten policies. Consult your advisor to check whether your recreational or medical use of marijuana can affect life insurance premiums.

Who is considered a smoker by life insurance companies?

While cigarette smokers are most commonly identified, insurers often have much broader definitions of tobacco use. Depending on the insurer, smoking cigars, vaping, chewing tobacco, and even using nicotine alternatives may affect how your risk profile and premiums are assessed.

Here’s a quick overview of the broader classification of smokers and tobacco users, according to leading Canadian insurers:

Note: Classification often depends on nicotine presence, cotinine test results, and look-back periods. Some carriers treat nicotine replacement therapy differently from tobacco use.

In addition, there is another category for former smokers. If you remain tobacco-free for a specified period before applying, you may qualify for lower rates. It is worth mentioning that each insurer has its own definition of who qualifies as a smoker. Discuss this with your advisor to learn how your habits affect the application.

What happens if I hide that I am a smoker?

While it may sound like a good idea to hide that you are a smoker and qualify for lower rates, it has serious consequences. Life insurance applications require you to answer questions about your tobacco and nicotine use honestly, which allows you to qualify for the best available rates.

If you are found misrepresenting or hiding your tobacco usage, your insurer may:

• Deny your application before issuing your policy
• Charge higher premiums or change your policy terms if this is discovered during underwriting
• Reduce or deny the death benefit if the misrepresentation is found during the contestability period
• Cancel your policy in cases of material misrepresentation or fraud, leaving your beneficiaries without financial protection

Types of life insurance available for smokers in Canada

Smokers in Canada have access to many of the policies available to non-smokers. Based on the type you choose, the following options are available:

• Term life insurance
• Whole life insurance
• Universal life insurance
• Simplified issue life insurance
• Guaranteed issue life insurance

Here’s an overview of the different policy types:

Term life insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a fixed period, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If you pass away while the policy is active, your beneficiaries receive a tax-free death benefit. For most smokers, term life offers the best balance between affordability and coverage. 

Despite the higher premiums compared to non-smoker rates, term life insurance remains the least expensive way to obtain a significant amount of coverage. It is best for individuals seeking to protect their family’s financial future, replace future income, and offset outstanding debts.

Whole life insurance

Whole life insurance provides lifelong coverage and includes a guaranteed cash value component that grows over time. While premiums are significantly higher than for term life, the policy never expires as long as premiums continue to be paid. 

Whole life insurance is a good choice for smokers seeking permanent financial protection or estate planning benefits through the cash value component.

Universal life insurance

Universal life insurance is another form of insurance that combines lifelong coverage with investment options. Part of the premium covers the cost of insurance, while the rest is invested within the policy.

This allows policyholders to adjust aspects of their coverage based on changing financial needs or unexpected costs. It is a good option for smokers seeking permanent coverage and long-term wealth generation.

Simplified issue life insurance

Simplified issue is a type of life insurance underwriting that requires applicants to answer a limited number of health questions without completing a medical exam. While the approval is faster, premiums are much higher than those of traditionally underwritten policies. Individuals can choose between term and permanent simplified issue coverage.

This is a good choice for smokers in Canada with moderate health concerns who may find it difficult to qualify for traditional coverage. Although it builds cash value in permanent policies, the accumulation is much slower than a standard whole life plan due to the higher risk undertaken by the insurer.

Guaranteed issue life insurance

Guaranteed issue life insurance offers coverage without any medical questions or examinations. Acceptance is generally guaranteed as long as the applicant meets the insurer’s age requirements.  

This policy is essentially a last-resort option for smokers with serious medical conditions who have difficulty qualifying for any life insurance coverage. Guaranteed issue features the highest premiums and a lower coverage limit, owing to the high risk undertaken by the insurer.

Comparing life insurance options for smokers in Canada

Every type of life insurance offers different advantages depending on your financial goals, health, and budget. While term life is the most affordable option for smokers, a simplified or guaranteed policy might be good for an individual facing moderate to severe health issues.

Here’s a comparison of the different life insurance policy options for smokers:

It is also worth noting that simplified issue and guaranteed issue policies may have a waiting period before the death benefit is paid to beneficiaries. Additionally, some guaranteed issue policies may have deferred cash value accumulation. Consult your advisor to learn what applies to you.

Top 5 best life insurance companies for smokers in Canada

Choosing the right life insurance companies for smokers is just as important as choosing the right type of policy. While many insurers offer great benefits, the following companies offer greater flexibility, built-in benefits, and features that make them particularly suitable for smokers.

Here’s an overview of the five best life insurance companies for smokers in Canada:

Canada Life

Canada Life can be a great option for applicants who smoke cigars occasionally. Under certain circumstances, clients who smoke one large cigar per week may still qualify for non-smoker premium rates, offering greater savings.

Canada Life also offers a broad selection of term and permanent life insurance products, making it suitable for smokers with varying coverage needs.

Beneva

Beneva is often a strong choice for regular smokers because its smoker premiums can be more competitive than those offered by many other Canadian insurers. Rather than focusing solely on smoking status, it also considers the applicant’s overall health profile during underwriting.

For smokers who are otherwise healthy, Beneva’s unique approach results in more affordable premiums than insurers with stricter regulations.

Wawanesa

Wawanesa is a good option for smokers who intend to quit in the near future. In addition to offering competitive smoker premiums, the insurer allows eligible policyholders to request non-smoker rates.

After 12 months of smoking cessation, policyholders can request non-smoker rates subject to underwriting approval.

iA Financial Group

 iA Financial Group is popular for its flexible underwriting approach, making it a strong option for smokers with more complex health profiles or multiple underwriting considerations. Similar to Wawanesa, iA also allows policyholders to apply for non-smoker rate reconsideration after 12 months of smoking cessation, subject to underwriting. 

Foresters Financial

Foresters Financial is another insurer that is well-suited for smokers seeking lifelong coverage through whole life policies. It also features a Quit Smoking Incentive Plan, granting non-smoker rates to smokers for the first two years, allowing them to save in premiums while they attempt to quit smoking.

Quick overview of the five best insurance companies for smokers in Canada:

How much life insurance coverage do smokers need?

For many Canadian families, a rule of thumb is to purchase life insurance worth 7 to 15 times your annual income. However, this is just a baseline and should be adjusted based on your financial situation.

Another great method of calculating how much coverage you need is to use the Debt, Income, Mortgage, and Education (DIME) method. It is a simple way to estimate how much life insurance you may need by considering four key financial obligations your beneficiaries could face.

Check out our life insurance calculator to determine how much coverage you need.

What mistakes do smokers make when buying life insurance?

Many smokers purchase life insurance to protect their loved ones, but choosing the wrong policy, waiting to quit smoking, or buying insufficient coverage can leave their family financially vulnerable.

Here are some of the common mistakes you should avoid as a smoker while purchasing life insurance in Canada:

• Hiding your smoking habit: Providing inaccurate information can lead to higher premiums later, policy cancellation, or claim complications if the insurer discovers the misrepresentation.
• Waiting until you quit smoking: Delaying coverage can mean higher premiums due to age or new health conditions. It is better to buy now and apply for non-smoker rates later
• Buying too little coverage: Choosing a lower coverage amount to reduce premiums may leave your family underinsured when they need financial support after you pass away
• Choosing a policy based only on price: The cheapest policy may lack the coverage, flexibility, or features you need for long-term financial protection as a smoker in Canada
• Not requesting non-smoker rates after quitting: If you have remained tobacco-free for your insurer’s required period, you may qualify for lower premiums. Make sure to request a reassessment once you qualify.

How much does life insurance cost for smokers?

The cost of a life insurance policy for smokers ranges from $14.40 to $290.34. Premiums depend on the plan and coverage you choose, as well as personal factors such as age, smoking status, gender, and health.

Here is a sample life insurance rate for smokers for $100,000 for 20 years:

* Illustrative monthly premiums for a 20-year term life insurance policy with a death benefit of $100,000

Life insurance premium: Smokers vs non-smokers

The table below provides a comparison of life insurance premiums for male smokers and non-smokers across different age groups:

* Illustrative monthly premiums for a 20-year term life insurance policy with a death benefit of $500,000

Can smokers qualify for non-smoker life insurance rates? 

Yes, many Canadian insurers allow former smokers to qualify for non-smoker premiums after they have remained tobacco-free for a specified period. However, it is recommended that you check the required period because it varies by insurer.

Most insurers consider how long you have been smoke-free, alongside factors such as current health and medical history. If you satisfy these requirements, you may be eligible for lower rates compared to active smokers. Remaining tobacco-free not only improves your health but may also reduce your premiums.

How long do you need to quit smoking?

Most insurers require applicants to remain tobacco-free for at least 12 months before considering them for non-smoker rates. Some insurers may require additional periods, especially for higher policy amounts or whole life insurance.

Here’s a general timeline for smokers and how it affects their rates:

Note: While many Canadian insurers consider applicants non-smokers after 12 months without tobacco or nicotine use, others might have additional requirements. Consult your advisor to see if you qualify for these rates.

Should you wait until you quit smoking before buying life insurance?

Many smokers postpone buying life insurance since they hope to qualify for non-smoker rates after quitting. While this may seem like a good strategy, waiting often means applying at an older age when premiums naturally increase.

The best time to buy life insurance is as early as possible, even if you currently smoke. Purchasing life insurance allows you to secure coverage while protecting your loved ones. If you quit smoking later on and meet your insurer’s tobacco-free requirements, you may be eligible to obtain a lower premium or purchase a new policy at non-smoker rates.

Can smokers change or update their life insurance policy? 

Yes, most life insurance policies in Canada can be updated or replaced as your financial needs, health, or lifestyle change. If you have quit smoking or found a better policy, you may have options to adjust your coverage. Common changes include increasing coverage, converting term to permanent, or applying for non-smoker rates.

Here are some of the most common changes smokers can make to their life insurance coverage:

If you have successfully quit smoking, it is recommended that you consult your advisor to change your policy or to check your eligibility for better premiums or plans.

Our advisor’s take on the best life insurance for smokers

At PolicyAdvisor, we recently helped a 42-year-old individual who had been smoking for more than 15 years secure affordable life insurance while protecting their growing family. They had assumed they would have very limited options owing to their smoking history, but after comparing multiple insurers, we were able to find competitive coverage that fit their budget. 

Client profile

• Age: 42
• Smoking status: Smokes approximately 10 cigarettes per day
• Family: Married with two children
• Primary concern: Income replacement and mortgage protection
• Coverage goal: $1 million in life insurance

Why we recommended a fully underwritten term life policy:

• A 20-year term policy provided affordable coverage during the family’s highest financial responsibility years 
• As they chose a term life insurance policy, they could apply for non-smoker rates after remaining tobacco-free for the insurer’s required period
• The policy included a conversion option, allowing permanent coverage in the future without additional medical underwriting

How to purchase life insurance for smokers in Canada

PolicyAdvisor’s licensed life insurance advisors can help smokers compare life insurance quotes from leading Canadian insurers based on their age, smoking habits, health, budget, and coverage needs.

Whether you currently smoke cigarettes, vape, use cigars, or have recently quit, our advisors can help you find the right policy at the most competitive rate. Our advisors at PolicyAdvisor will help you understand smoker classifications and premiums across multiple insurers to identify the best coverage for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is life insurance more expensive for smokers?

Yes, since smoking increases the risk of serious health conditions like cancer and COPD. Insurers typically charge higher premiums to account for the increased likelihood of future claims.

Does vaping count as smoking for life insurance?

Most insurers classify applicants who regularly use nicotine-based vaping products or e-cigarettes as smokers. It is recommended that you consult your advisor to check what qualifies as smoking with your insurer.

Can occasional cigar smokers qualify for non-smoker rates?

Some insurers distinguish between occasional cigar use and regular tobacco use, while others classify all cigar smokers as smokers. Eligibility depends on the insurer’s underwriting rules.

How long after quitting smoking can I qualify for non-smoker rates? 

Many insurers require applicants to remain tobacco-free for at least 12 months before considering them for non-smoker rates. However, this period differs from insurer to insurer.

Which type of life insurance is best for smokers?

For most smokers, term life insurance offers the best combination of affordability and coverage. However, the best policy depends on your financial goals, medical conditions, and other factors that might affect your underwriting outcome.