Does smoking affect your health policy?

My husband smokes 2-3 cigarettes a day. I am worried about his health and also wish to know how it will impact premiums on a health policy that we are planning?

-Ragini Ahuja, Pune

Smoking any number of cigarettes is a matter of health concern, and it is a habit best avoided. As far as insurers are concerned, your husband will be considered a smoker at the time of buying health as well as life insurance, irrespective of his consumption. The impact on the premium is instant with smokers being charged a higher rate than non smokers. Do not hide the fact that your husband smokes by stating he is a non smoker, because if it later comes out that he is a smoker, the insurer is likely to terminate the policy or worse— deny you the claim at the time you make a claim.

olmdesk@outlookindia.com