Chewing Tobacco – You Can Get the Best Rates Here!

By Michael Horbal – updated on – 09/03/2022

Chewing tobacco (smokeless tobacco) always gets non-tobacco life insurance rates with us.

The statistics show that most chewers overpay for life insurance…don’t let that be you.

Chewing Tobacco Life Insurance Overview

We help smokeless tobacco users get the best rates in the market.

Most tobacco and nicotine users can get non-tobacco rates if they know the rules and get to the right company.

This guide will help you get your best rate based on your chewing tobacco use.

Chewing Tobacco Rules by Company

Underwriting is based on how often you use smokeless tobacco and whether or not your paramed exam lab results will be positive or negative.

The process consists of completing your application and completing the paramed with height and weight checks.

You will also choose riders if needed, name your beneficiary, and select the death benefit settlement option that best meets your needs.

If you chew tobacco daily, the best companies are:

• John Hancock – standard non-tobacco rates
• Lincoln National – standard non-tobacco rates
• Prudential – non-smoker plus rates

The above companies allow positive lab results.

What if you only chew tobacco occasionally?

If that is the case, obtaining a better rate class may be possible than the standard rate.

The catch?

Your lab results need to be negative.

The following companies are best for occasional smokeless tobacco chewers:

• American National – Best rates if you chew 2x per month or less.
• AXA – Standard non-tobacco for occasional use.
• Minnesota Life – Best rates for chewing 12x or less per year.
• New York Life – Standard non-tobacco for occasional use.

With the occasional use of chewing tobacco, underwriters look closely at medical records, the Medical Information Bureau, your family medical history, and your overall history to ensure occasional use is accurate.

You will usually get treated as a tobacco user if there is any discrepancy.

Smokeless tobacco chewing will negatively affect your life insurance if you end up with the wrong insurance company.

The good news is that no matter how much tobacco you chew, there are companies that give you non-tobacco rates!

And those rates are available whether you buy term, whole, or universal life insurance.

One thing to note is that companies may decline to insure you if you’ve had tobacco-related health problems.

Am I cheating to get non-tobacco rates?

No, not at all.

You have to admit chewing tobacco use on your life insurance application.

Knowing which term life insurance companies have favorable underwriting programs for smokeless tobacco is key.

Some companies will require negative lab results for cotinine (nicotine metabolites).

Other companies could care less if you chewed tobacco at your paramed exam.

That’s where we’ll be able to guide you to affordable life insurance rates.

Are you a business owner?

We can help with your SBA life insurance needs, including helping you set up the required policy assignment.

Underwriting Questions About Smokeless Tobacco

The following underwriting questions will make or break your life insurance application with the wrong life insurer!

It’s not a secret, but most people and agents don’t know the rules to help you save.

Here’s what you need to know:

• When did you start using chew?
• How often do you chew? (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
• Can you stop chewing long enough to provide a negative urine sample?
• Do you want to stop chewing long enough to provide a negative sample?
• Do you use any other tobacco or nicotine products? (cigars, pipe tobacco)
• If yes, what do you use, how much, and how often?

Remember that regardless of your answer to the above questions, non-tobacco life insurance rates are available.

The only possible exception will be if you smoke cigarettes or vape.

Accelerated underwriting and no exam life insurance are available, and you may be able to get $500k of term life insurance with no exam, sometimes even more. Term lengths up to 40 years are available.

We’ll tell you which life insurance companies are best based on your individual information.

Does my urine sample have to be negative?

Your urine sample does not need to be negative,

As long as you apply to the companies that don’t care about positive cotinine results.

If you’re an infrequent tobacco chewer, stopping long enough to provide a negative sample may be beneficial.

The reason is that companies requiring a negative sample may offer better underwriting rates.

For example, here’s a scenario for a 35-year-old male in the preferred best health, seeking $500,000 for a 20-year term life. 

The only issue is chewing tobacco.

• The best tobacco rate = is $990 per year.
• The best daily chewing rate = is $575 per year.
• Occasional chewing = $335 per year with negative labs

We were able to insure him and his spouse for a lower premium than the Costco life program was charging just for his policy.

It was an excellent policy with an additional accidental death rider and conversion privilege to age 70.

It’s a tremendous saving if you can meet the guidelines for chewers’ non-tobacco life insurance rates.

How Long Does Nicotine Stay in Your System?

Generally speaking, nicotine leaves your system in about 72+/- hours,

But that’s not what the life insurance companies are testing you for anyway. 

Life insurers are looking for the nicotine metabolite – cotinine because it stays in your system longer than nicotine.

Final Words

Please take a few minutes to submit your quote request today. 

Our Life Insurance 101 guide is a great place to start if this is your first time buying life insurance.

There is no pressure or obligation with our service.

We’ll let you know which company is best for your tobacco use history.

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