There are many factors that are assessed when people take out life insurance and critical illness cover. After all, cover providers have to know about the lifestyles of consumers and any medical complaints they suffer from if they are to be able to provide them with appropriate insurance protection.
One of the issues looked at by cover a provider is smoking. This habit is damaging to individuals’ wellbeing. Indeed, according to the NHS, in 2007 to 2008 there were 1.4 million hospital admissions for diseases caused by smoking and the vice is responsible for every one in five deaths in adults over the age of 35 in England.
The habit is associated with lung cancer, heart disease, strokes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
According to research conducted by Sainsbury’s Life Insurance, there are around 3.02 million Britons who classify themselves as non-smokers but who in fact have the occasional cigarette, or who have the odd ‘puff’ of someone else’s.
Commenting on this, manager at the organisation David Cook said: “It’s interesting quite how many Brits regard themselves as non-smokers but are in fact social smokers. We’d urge anyone who finds themselves in this camp to go that extra inch and fully kick their habit.
He went on to note: “If someone classes themselves as a non-smoker when taking out a life insurance policy, but in fact is having the occasional cigarette whilst in a social situation or to help combat stress, they need to ask themselves whether their ‘non-smoking status’ is really valid.”
The life insurance and critical illness cover expert pointed out that in order to qualify as a non-smoker, someone has to have been nicotine-free for 12 months.
Meanwhile, the study also found that around one in five smokers in the UK could potentially reduce the cost of their insurance protection by giving up smoking.