BANGALORE: Smoking has a major effect on health insurance and on the premiums that you will pay for it. The issue is likely to get worse in the future. According to the survey conducted by ICICI Lombard on the occasion of World Tobacco Day, nearly one-third of the respondents said they feared that the insurance firms will turn down their applications or charge them with higher premiums. Over half of them who participated in the survey also said that they had not disclosed their smoking habit while buying health insurance policies.

Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, health insurers are allowed to charge smokers 50 percent higher premiums than nonsmokers. The company usually rejects proposals if the seeker smokes more than 40 cigarettes a day and who is suffering from health complications. It can bring a huge impact to issue a policy. “It might, however, discourage someone from buying health insurance, experts said.

Firstly Companies do more research while examining such applications and if the seekers happen to be a smoker or suffering from lifestyle diseases, he or she has to undergo medical tests and the decision truly depends on the individual's declaration and the medical reports. Smoking or pre-existing ailments doesn’t disqualify you from getting a health cover. As for pre-existing diseases like diabetes and hypertension, the condition would determine the fate of your application. The health law has come up with counseling and medication as a preventive benefit for the smokers. Those under the age of 45 are issued policies on the basis of declaration of good health.

Experts said that the smokers having a lower income if charged with higher premium surcharge will face difficulties to pay.

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