Prudential has the best life insurance rates for those who use cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine patches or nicotine gum.  If the applicant has not used cigarettes in the last 12 months, and admits on the application the use of a tobacco or nicotine product, “Non Smoker Plus” rates are available.  That rate classification, generally called standard plus, is only rate class above the preferred non tobacco rate.  John Hancock allows their Standard Nonsmoker rate for non cigarette users in the last 12 months, smokeless tobacco or other nicotine product users, but e-cigarettes are not included in that category.

What separates Prudential and John Hancock out from the competition is that the applicant can test positive for nicotine on the paramed exam and still qualify for the non tobacco rate.  Some carriers allow an occasional use of a non cigarette tobacco product, but the nicotine test result must be negative.  For occasional cigar use with a negative paramed test result, several carriers allow preferred best rates.

Electronic Cigarettes:  The Early Days

The FDA in an advisory has come out against electronic cigarettes.  A non smoker rights website believes e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative and has a useful compiler of news articles.  For some e-cigarettes may be a legitimate avenue to quit smoking cigarettes.  The ins and outs of the health issues won’t deter some from cashing in on its strong market potential.  The downside potential is that “vaping” will suck in some young or not so young people down the rabbit hole of abuse or addiction and use these devices as starter or bridge drug or favored delivery method for an alternate drug.

Please contact me for a free confidential quote.