Smokers may pay up to £16,000 more in life insurance premiums

No Smoking Day

John Brazier
clock • 1 min read

Research from Royal London, published to coincide with No Smoking Day (9 March), shows smokers can save £16,000 on premiums for life insurance by kicking the habit.

The insurer stated that non-smokers could be eligible for lower rate premiums if they have not smoked tobacco, or used any nicotine replacement products including e-cigarettes, for 12 months. According to Royal London research, a smoker aged 50 would pay nearly triple every month what a non-smoker of the same age would have to pay for the same sum assure - £29.13 compared to £82.48, based on level single life cover, over a 25-year term for £150,000 sum assured. In the example, savings can amount to £16,005 over a 25-year term, while savings for those aged 30 and 40 total £1,788 and 5,...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Individual Protection

Only 18% of adults living alone have life insurance

Only 18% of adults living alone have life insurance

One-person households to rise by 20%

Jaskeet Briah
clock 02 February 2026 • 1 min read
Government launches £200m investment for cancer care

Government launches £200m investment for cancer care

Tackling postcode lotteries

Jaskeet Briah
clock 30 January 2026 • 2 min read
Protection ranks lowest in importance for homebuyers

Protection ranks lowest in importance for homebuyers

Vitality research findings

Jaskeet Briah
clock 23 January 2026 • 2 min read