If you’re looking for a quitting cigarettes timeline, the good news is that some changes start quickly. Within about 20 minutes of your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to move back toward normal. Other benefits of quitting smoking take much longer.
Let’s face it, we all know smoking and vaping are bad for you. But what really happens when you quit smoking or decide to quit vaping?
Quitting Cigarettes Timeline: What Happens to Your Body
If you’re trying to quit smoking, here’s some hope and encouragement. Health Canada monitors what happens in your body when you quit smoking. Here’s an abridged version:
And the rewards continue to mount. Fifteen years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a person who has never smoked.
If you’ve been smoking for some time and you’re thinking of quitting, realize that the benefits begin immediately. It will help if you have a support group, someone to walk with or exercise with. Find some positive thing that will happen as a result of quitting, something that motivates you to give up cigarettes. Quitting isn’t easy, but the reward is immeasurable. You can quit smoking.
Source: Health Canada.
Nicotine Withdrawal Is Tough
I have a friend who has since kicked the habit. It turns out that after about 24 hours without smoking, he went out in the rain in the middle of the night and bought a pack of smokes only to throw them away again. When you’re in the throes of smoking withdrawal, cravings can come out of left-field.
The first week is the worst. Irritability, restlessness, bad temper, mood swings, inability to concentrate, disturbed sleep, coughing, and the list goes on and on. My friend’s episode reminds us, however, of an important fact that feeling better and nicotine withdrawal symptoms don’t exist on the same timeline.
While most issues subside after the first week, quitting smoking is never easy. Embedded habits and associations take much longer to conquer. Stress, alcohol, coffee, being around other smokers, and the list goes on and on. These associations can create powerful cravings long after the worst of the symptoms have subsided. Nicotine is a powerful drug.
"Quitting tobacco immediately reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke."
Quitting Cigarettes Timeline: What If I Quit Vaping?
And what if I quit vaping?
Vaping is hugely popular. The process of quitting nicotine-based vaping is very similar to the process of quitting cigarettes. With heavy users, it’s a viciously addictive cycle. However, when you quit smoking you’re recovering from more than just nicotine. You’re also recovering from the effects of carbon monoxide and other toxins present when burning tobacco. If you’ve only ever used a nicotine-based vape you skip that part of the quitting cigarettes timeline. That doesn’t make quitting vaping easy.
What this means when it comes to insurance: Each company has its own process around vaping in Canada, but if you are using nicotine through vaping you will be charged smoker’s rates. This means that if you’ve given up smoking and moved on to vaping, that does not automatically entitle you to non-smoker rates.
I’ve been on many calls where clients feel vaping is so inconsequential that they don’t tell me about it. However, it’s important to give me a full history of any and all tobacco/nicotine use:
Be totally up front with me. It’s the insurers’ decisions how they rate you, and I want to give you a realistic expectation of what they’ll be looking for.
Recently quit smoking or vaping?
Your health timeline and your life insurance timeline are not necessarily the same. An insurer may still classify you as a smoker even after you have stopped.
See Your Life Insurance Options →When Are You Considered a Non-Smoker for Life Insurance in Canada?
Canadian insurers want to see a full 12 months without tobacco or nicotine before they’ll consider non-smoker rates.
Think of it as two separate clocks.
Your health starts changing almost right away. Qualifying for non-smoker life insurance rates usually takes much longer.
What About Nicotine Gum and Patches?
As long as I’m not smoking, I can be classified as a non-smoker after 12 months for life insurance purposes.
Nope. Some nicotine-based smoking cessation products could impact your ability to qualify for non-smoker rates. Nicotine gum/patches/lozenges and other smoking cessation products prescribed by your doctor could impact your ability to get non-smoker rates on your policy.
Here’s what I recommend:
Tell me what product(s) your doctor has prescribed and your timeline for quitting.
Tell your doctor you are using their services to quit smoking, so they can provide written confirmation of your timeline should it be necessary.
You’ll need to be completely tobacco- and nicotine-free for the required period before non-smoker rates are available. Although it’s not necessarily viewed by insurers as being as bad for your body as cigarettes, they will want to know how long you’ve been consuming some form of nicotine.
Policies vary among Canadian insurers. While many clients make the assumption that the clock starts ticking the day they stop smoking, I’ve seen a number of clients surprised by this requirement. Better safe than sorry.
Smokers Pay More for Life Insurance... Period
Life insurance for smokers in Canada is considerably more expensive than policies offered to non-smokers in a similar state of health. In fact, the difference in smoker vs non-smoker life insurance rates for identical coverage can be substantial.
Rates vary from buyer to buyer based on a number of factors including age, state of health, total amount of coverage, type of coverage, and the insurance company. There is no set increase that applies to smokers.
You can purchase traditional term or permanent life insurance. However, be aware that the premium for life insurance is higher, and these additional costs add up over time.
Insurers take into consideration that smokers are at increased risk for stroke, heart disease, respiratory problems and cancer when calculating rates.
Different insurers can look at the same applicant differently.
Wherever you are in your quitting cigarettes timeline, or if you plan to quit vaping, compare your options before assuming you need expensive coverage. A licensed broker can help determine how Canadian insurers may treat your smoking, vaping, nicotine use and overall health profile.
Quitting Cigarettes Timeline: Should I Wait Until I Quit Smoking to Buy Life Insurance?
No.
Another common question from smoker clients is “should I wait until I quit smoking to apply for life insurance?”
The best response from me is it depends on your situation. If you have a mortgage and/or kids and are looking to take care of them in case you die unexpectedly, I’d highly encourage getting insured right away. Waiting 12 months leaves you and your loved ones unprotected should anything happen. For example, maybe your financial situation changes, your health changes, you lose your job, etc. It’s safer to get covered today.
From experience, smokers often think they’ll quit next month. This thought process often leads them not to apply for life insurance when they should. Eventually, they realize quitting is not that easy, and the thought fades away. Then after three or four years, the smoker applies for life insurance but is purchasing it as a smoker anyway, only at an older age, potentially with more health issues.
There are two choices for smokers in these cases:
Apply for life insurance as a smoker right away. Later on, when you do quit smoking, meet all of the nonsmoker qualifications and request that the insurer change your status. This has worked for many of my smoker clients who have seen substantial savings.
If it’s cheaper, apply for life insurance again as a nonsmoker.
TermCanada looks at all of your options and we’ll find you the best price.
Health Conditions & the Cost Of Life Insurance for Smokers
A difference of $10-20 per month can become substantial when you’re paying premiums for many years. But smoking status is only one part of what determines the price of life insurance.
Smoking is just one of those factors.
When you apply for life insurance, the insurer looks at your overall health and risk profile. Quitting smoking can improve one part of that profile, but other health conditions can still affect what you pay.
The other issue is that insurance companies don’t all treat health conditions the same way. One company may be more comfortable with a particular condition and charge less for it, while another may price that same condition more aggressively.
If you have two or three health concerns at the same time, those differences can become even more important. That’s why comparing companies matters, particularly when smoking isn’t the only thing in your medical history.
Technology has made life insurance look simple. Pick a few options, fill out some forms and you’re done. But life insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all product. Your health history and the company reviewing it can have a real impact on the premium you’re offered.
If You Have Health Issues There Are Options
Wherever you are in the quitting cigarettes timeline, there are four types of life insurance in Canada based on the level of comfort you have with medical underwriting.
This is the traditional application process. It includes extensive health and lifestyle questions, and may require you to provide bloodwork, a urine sample, and other tests. If you’re in reasonably good health, this is likely to be the best priced option for you.
This is similar to the traditional underwriting process, but depending on the insurer and your eligibility, may not require a full medical exam. Companies will consider your age and medical history to see if you’re eligible to be accelerated. This process shortens the amount of time it takes to get approved.
This type of insurance involves a shorter application process and no medical exam. It’s a good option for people with more complicated health histories or where speed matters.
This is the last resort if you’re in poor health and don’t qualify for any of the other options. There is no medical exam and no health questions, but it’s the most expensive option with the lowest coverage amount. There is also a two year waiting period, excluding accidents.
You might be wondering which type of life insurance is best for smokers. There isn’t a definitive answer since each person’s health and risk profile is assessed by insurers. Smoking is not the only criteria used to determine what type of product is right for you. Your entire health profile will be considered along with the fact that each insurance company views identical health profiles differently.
ALWAYS Be Accurate on Your Application
I always get a chuckle when people tell me they don’t really consider themselves a smoker because they’ve given up smoking but still partake at a wedding or during vacations. It’s not that people are being sneaky, but their occasional use of nicotine counts when it comes to underwriting.
The best option is to speak with your broker and disclose your use of nicotine. I would even go so far as to say don’t try to assess whether or not you’re considered a nicotine user. Leave that part up to us.
The use of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, vaping / e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snus, pipe tobacco. In addition to using these products, some applications will ask about cannabis use as well as any type of nicotine replacement therapy including nicotine gum, lozenges or patches.
In addition to simply indicating whether you’ve used these products, insurers may ask when was the last time.
If you feel that by leaving out information regarding vaping or other forms of nicotine you’ll receive a lower insurance premium, this might be true. However, leaving information off an application could cause problems down the road with your insurance. It’s better to be safe than sorry and disclose everything upfront to ensure you’re in the correct risk classification from the start. Providing false or incomplete information may cause an insurer to look closer at your policy during the contestability period or when a claim is made.
Need help understanding the questions asked on a life insurance application? Reach out to me for help. I’m happy to explain everything.
Quitting Cigarettes Timeline: Frequently Asked Questions
Nicotine is highly addictive. Some people are able to stop smoking cold turkey. Others need help. Whether you were smoking traditional cigarettes, cigars, vaping or using e-cigarettes, quitting can be challenging.
If you’ve been smoking cigarettes, the first week will probably be the most difficult. Expect cravings, trouble sleeping and more irritability than usual. The nicotine withdrawal timeline can stretch over several weeks, with the first days often being the toughest. After that, cravings may still appear because of habits and triggers such as your morning coffee, alcohol, stress or being around other smokers.
For people asking how long after quitting smoking are you considered a non-smoker, Canadian life insurers look for 12 months without tobacco or nicotine before considering non-smoker rates.
One thing I would not do: wait if you need coverage now. You may be working toward that 12-month non-smoking goal, but your mortgage and the rest of your financial responsibilities aren’t going anywhere. Life can change in a split second, so make sure you’re protected.
When it comes to vaping and life insurance, nicotine use is the important part of the conversation. If you’re using a nicotine-based vape, don’t assume that switching from cigarettes to vaping automatically makes you a non-smoker. Tell your broker exactly what you’re using and let them check how the different insurers will treat it.
Not necessarily. If you bought your life insurance at smoker rates because you needed coverage right away, you can ask whether the insurer will review your classification once you’ve met its non-smoker requirements.
Rates generally don’t change automatically just because a year has passed. The insurer may ask for updated health information before making a decision.
We can also compare the policy you already have with what a new non-smoker policy may cost. That gives you something concrete to compare rather than assuming one option will automatically be cheaper.
One thing I would not do: cancel your existing life insurance too early. If you’re replacing it, make sure the new policy has been approved, issued, paid for and is fully in force before terminating the coverage you already have.
Many insurers will consider reviewing an existing policy once you’ve met their required tobacco- and nicotine-free period. Call your broker or insurance company and ask what they require. You may be asked for updated health information before your classification is changed.
Absolutely. Once you’ve met the insurer’s non-smoker requirements, you may be eligible for non-smoker pricing. A 12-month tobacco- and nicotine-free period is common in Canada, but it’s always worth checking because the rules can vary by company.
Need help with the smoking and vaping questions on a life insurance application? Reach out to me. I’m happy to explain what the insurer is asking in plain English and help you understand which companies may fit your situation.
