Life Insurance I recently quit smoking. I think most insurance companies won’t consider you a nonsmoker until you’ve quit for 5 years. Can my policy be adjusted to a non-smoking rate after I’m smoke-free for 5 years? By Insure.com | Posted on December 23, 2010 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Congratulations on kicking the habit. You’re correct that you need to refrain from smoking for a considerable period of time before life insurance companies consider you to be a non-smoker. Most companies require policyholders to have abstained from nicotine products from two to five years to qualify for non-smoking rates. The question of whether your premiums can go down and by how much is certainly worth asking your life insurance agent. Check your policy and contact your agent to find out when you can request an evaluation of your current life insurance premium. Quitting smoking is among a number of significant health improvements that can bring down life insurance premiums. Others include significant weight loss to achieve a healthy body mass index, overcoming a chronic illness or improved cholesterol and blood pressure readings. Once your agent agrees it’s time for an evaluation, the insurance company will require you to undergo a medical exam. Schedule the appointment at a time when you will be relaxed. During the 48 hours prior to the exam, limit caffeine consumption, which can elevate blood pressure and increase pulse rate, and refrain from drinking alcohol, which can elevate blood pressure and affect your blood test. Avoid vigorous exercise the day before the exam. Exercise can cause misleading increases in cholesterol levels. It’s also a good idea to fast 12 hours before the exam to prevent certain foods and beverages from interfering with blood tests. For more, see Can you hide smoking from life insurance companies? and how to get better life insurance rates after you buy the policy. Related Articles Can I take out a life insurance policy on my spouse? By Penny Gusner What happens to the cash value of my whole life insurance policy when I die? By Nupur Gambhir What is guaranteed cash value in a life insurance policy? By Laine Adley Can I withdraw money from my term life insurance? By Nupur Gambhir Do life insurance policies pay out if a person dies of old age? By Les Masterson Can you cash in a paid up life insurance policy? By Les Masterson