Burial insurance for smokers is a small whole life policy that covers final costs and stays widely available even if you use tobacco. Carriers rate smokers separately, so your monthly premium runs higher than a non-smoker’s for the same face amount. But your coverage still locks in for life, and most policies skip the medical exam.
Can smokers get burial insurance?
Yes. Burial insurance — also called final expense insurance or funeral insurance — is one product: a small whole life policy, usually between $2,000 and $50,000, for people ages 50 to 85. Smoking almost never gets you turned away. Many carriers ask a few health questions, and if a health condition is also in the mix, a guaranteed issue policy that skips health questions is still an option.
Coverage matters because funerals are not cheap. The national median funeral runs about $8,300 with a viewing and burial, or $6,280 with cremation (NFDA 2023). A policy sized to that cost keeps the bill off your family. To see what a smoker’s policy might run, you can compare final expense costs across carriers before you apply.
Why do smokers pay more for burial insurance?
Insurance pricing is based on risk, and tobacco use raises that risk. So carriers place smokers in a separate rate class — a “tobacco” or “smoker” rate — that costs more than the non-tobacco rate for the same face amount. This is standard across the industry, not one carrier being harsh.
Here is the good news: the death benefit is the same. A $10,000 policy pays out $10,000 whether you smoke or not. You simply pay a higher monthly premium to get there, and that premium locks in for life once the policy begins.
What counts as a smoker to insurance carriers?
Carriers look at more than cigarettes. Almost any nicotine or tobacco use can place you in the tobacco rate class, and how each form is treated varies by carrier. Common examples:
- Cigarettes
- Cigars and pipes
- Chewing tobacco or snuff
- Vaping and e-cigarettes
- Nicotine gum or patches (sometimes)
Be honest on the application. Many policies test for nicotine, and marking yourself a non-smoker when you use tobacco can void a claim later — which defeats the whole point of buying the coverage.
How much more do smokers pay, and which policy fits?
There is no single smoker rate. It changes with your age, your face amount, and the carrier. Rather than chase one number, it helps to match the policy type to your health. Two common paths:
| Coverage type | Health questions | Waiting period | Best fit for smokers who… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified issue whole life | A few yes/no questions | Usually none if you qualify | Smoke but are otherwise in decent health |
| Guaranteed issue whole life | Skips all health questions | Two-year graded death benefit | Have been declined or have serious conditions |
A simplified issue policy usually gives the lower smoker rate if you can answer the health questions cleanly. If you cannot, a guaranteed issue policy still covers you — just with a two-year graded death benefit before the full payout begins.
Can you get a lower rate after you quit smoking?
Sometimes. Some carriers will offer a non-tobacco rate once you have been tobacco-free for a required period — the length varies by carrier, often a year or longer. Your current policy’s premium will not drop on its own, though. To get the lower rate, you typically apply for a new policy at non-tobacco pricing and replace the old one, only after the new coverage is approved and in force.
Because these rules differ so much from company to company, this is exactly where an independent broker earns their keep — comparing carriers to find which ones reward your quit date.
How does a broker help a smoker find the best rate?
An independent broker does not work for one insurance company. That means we compare smoker rates across many carriers at once, instead of you filling out one application after another. Some carriers are simply friendlier to tobacco users than others, and the gap between the best and worst smoker rate can be wide.
A broker can also point you toward no-medical-exam coverage and match the policy type to your health so you do not overpay. It is a short conversation that can save you real money every month for the rest of your life.
Ready to see real numbers? Compare smoker-friendly final expense pricing on our final expense cost page — it is the fastest way to find the lowest rate you qualify for as a tobacco user.