Do Life Insurance Companies Care if You Use On! Nicotine?
- mattmims
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
Quick Answer: Yes, most life insurance companies do care if you use On! nicotine pouches — but not all of them penalize you for it. That’s why working with a broker like LifeStein.com who knows the market matters.
What Is On! Nicotine and Why Do Life Insurance Companies Care?
On! is a popular oral nicotine pouch — small, tobacco-free, and discreet. It’s placed between the gum and lip to release nicotine without the harmful smoke or combustion associated with cigarettes.
However, to many life insurance companies, nicotine is nicotine. They often lump users of products like On! into the same category as cigarette smokers — which can dramatically increase your life insurance rates.
That’s why choosing the right company (and the right broker) makes all the difference.
Life Insurance Ratings: What Happens if You Use On!?
Here’s how life insurance companies generally rate people based on their nicotine use:
User Type | Typical Health Class | Premium Impact |
Never used nicotine | Preferred Plus | Lowest rates |
Occasional On! user | Standard / Standard Plus | Mild increase (if any) |
Daily On! user | Standard / Smoker | Moderate increase |
Cigarette smoker (daily) | Smoker | Up to 3x higher premiums |
Recently quit cigarettes (under 12 months) | Smoker | Still penalized |
Key Insight: Some companies treat On! users just like smokers. Others will give you a non-smoker rate — but only if you know which companies to apply with.
What the Life Insurance Fact Book Says About Underwriting Trends
The 2024 Life Insurance Fact Book, published by the American Council of Life Insurers, highlights a growing trend: personalized underwriting is becoming more common.
With over 780 life insurers in the U.S., more carriers are moving toward risk segmentation, meaning:
Not all nicotine users are rated the same.
Companies are starting to view oral nicotine differently from smoking.
Accelerated underwriting and digital apps are speeding up the process.
This shift gives On! users an opportunity — if they apply through the right broker who understands which companies are evolving and which are still stuck in outdated guidelines.
Max L.’s Real-Life Story as an On! User
"I use On! maybe twice a day, but I don't smoke or vape. I applied for life insurance online and was shocked when the rate came back with a ‘smoker’ label. A friend referred me to LifeStein.com — and Matt immediately knew what to do. He found me a company that didn’t penalize for pouches, and I got approved at a Standard Plus rate in 3 days. Saved me over $70 a month."— Max L., age 37, Atlanta, GA
Why It’s So Important to Start Off on the Right Foot
Here’s the truth: if you apply to the wrong company and get a smoker rating, that decision sticks in your insurance file — even if you apply elsewhere later.
That’s why you want to start with a life insurance broker who knows:
Which companies don’t test for nicotine pouches
Which carriers classify On! use differently from smoking
How to position your application for the best rating
LifeStein works with every major life insurance company in all 50 states, including:
Legal & General, Banner Life, Protective, Symetra, Corebridge, Penn Mutual, Pacific Life, Principal, Transamerica, Thrivent, Cincinnati Life, Securian, Nationwide, Mutual of Omaha, AuguStar, Lincoln Financial, Ethos, New York Life, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About On! and Life Insurance
Will I have to take a medical exam?
Not always. If you’re in good health and only use On!, you can likely qualify for no-exam life insurance through the right company. See our instant quote tool here.
Do life insurance companies test for nicotine?
Yes, many policies include a cotinine test, which detects nicotine in your system. On! pouches will likely trigger this.
That’s why you need a company that asks about use and interprets the results fairly.
How long does On! stay in your system?
Cotinine (a nicotine byproduct) can stay in your urine for up to 3–4 days. For blood tests, it may linger a little longer depending on frequency of use and your metabolism.
Can I lie and say I don’t use nicotine?
Don’t do it. If you lie and die during the contestability period (typically the first two years of your policy), your claim could be denied. It’s not worth the risk.
Instead, work with a broker like LifeStein who knows which companies won’t penalize you for honest On! use.
Why Most Online Life Insurance Quote Engines Give You the Wrong Price
When you visit most sites like PolicyGenius or SelectQuote, their quote engines assume:
You’re either a smoker or a non-smoker.
There's no middle ground for On! pouch users.
This leads to frustrating experiences like:
Getting quoted $25/month for $500K coverage…
…only to be offered $80/month after underwriting.
At LifeStein, our calculator includes an option for On!, VELO, Zyn, dip, and vaping — so your quote is realistic from the beginning.
👉 Try it here: https://www.lifestein.com/onlifeinsurance
The Bottom Line: You Deserve Fair Pricing — Even If You Use On!
Let’s recap what we’ve learned:
✅ Most life insurance companies do care if you use On!
✅ Some treat it the same as smoking — unfairly inflating your rate
✅ A handful of modern insurers give fair, non-smoker rates for On!
✅ The only way to access those rates is by using an independent broker who knows the market
Don’t overpay for life insurance just because of a nicotine pouch.
Start smart. Apply once. Lock in the right rate.
Get Started with Life Insurance as an On! User
If you use On! pouches — even daily — you can still get great rates. But only if you go through a broker who understands the underwriting landscape.
That’s exactly what we do here at LifeStein.
✅ We work with every major carrier
✅ We know who does and doesn’t penalize for pouches
✅ We guide you every step — fast, easy, no pressure
Or call/text Matt directly at (601)-218-7854
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