Smoking and Health Insurance Premiums

If you are a smoker, you can reduce your premiums by as much as a few hundred dollars just by quitting. This is due to the fact that health insurance companies know that people who smoke get sick more often and use proportionally more medical services than non-smokers. Equally important to insurers, the type of services smokers are likely to use are generally more expensive than those used by non-smokers, particularly when you consider diseases such as emphysema and lung cancer. The savings on your health insurance premiums is not the only benefit you will receive.

If you are sick less often and using fewer medical services, this would mean lower out-of-pocket expenses for co-pays, and for doctor visits and prescriptions. That easily adds up to another couple hundred dollars in your pocket. If you are also a pack-a-day smoker and you quit, at a conservative $3.50 per pack, which is nearly $1,300 in savings per year alone.

Anyone trying to quit smoking and needing help should visit QuitNet.com. Aside from providing a lot a helpful tips and articles on quitting smoking, you can plug in your zip code and receive a list of smoking cessation support programs in your area.