Do Life Insurance Companies Care if You Vape in 2025?
- mattmims
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
💡 Quick answer: Yes — life insurance companies do care if you vape, and most will classify you as a tobacco user even if you only vape JUUL, Elfbar, or other nicotine-based e-cigs. But don’t worry — at LifeStein.com, we know which companies offer non-tobacco rates for certain vape users.
👉 Skip the hassle and get a vape-friendly quote now:Get a Quote with Vape Use Considered
Does Vaping Count as Smoking for Life Insurance?
Unfortunately, yes — at least for most companies. Even if you’re only puffing on JUUL, Elfbar, Puff Bar, or a refillable vape, many insurers will automatically lump you into the same rate class as a cigarette smoker.
This means:
Rates 2–4x higher than a non-smoker
No access to Preferred or Preferred Plus health classes
You may have to wait 1–3 years after quitting to get better pricing
But there’s good news — some carriers are starting to break away from this old-school thinking.
How Life Insurance Companies Rate Vape Users (2025 Chart)
Here’s how top-rated life insurance companies are currently treating vapers:
Life Insurance Company | Rating If You Vape | Can Get Non-Tobacco Rates? |
Protective | Tobacco | ❌ No |
Legal & General (Banner) | Tobacco | ❌ No |
Mutual of Omaha | Tobacco | ❌ No |
Lincoln Financial | Standard Plus (if vaping only) | ✅ Yes |
Pacific Life | Tobacco | ❌ No |
Ethos (No-Exam) | Tobacco or Non-Tobacco (depends on honesty) | ⚠️ Depends |
Symetra | Standard Plus | ✅ Yes |
Transamerica | Tobacco | ❌ No |
Cincinnati Life | Tobacco | ❌ No |
Thrivent | Tobacco | ❌ No |
✅ = Possible non-tobacco rate⚠️ = Depends on application wording
As you can see, the majority of carriers still treat vape users like smokers. But a few — like Lincoln Financial — may offer better classifications if your usage is occasional and nicotine-free (like CBD vapes or 0% vapes).
Testimonial: “They Actually Understood Vaping”
"I’d been turned down twice because I told them I used an Elfbar occasionally. One agent even told me I’d have to wait 2 years just to apply. I found LifeStein, told them the truth, and they still got me approved at Standard Plus with no exam. They actually understood vaping."— Robert A., age 34, Austin, TX
What If I Vape But Don’t Use Nicotine?
If your vape doesn’t contain nicotine or THC — for example, flavored vapes, CBD-only pens, or 0% Elfbar options — you may qualify for non-tobacco rates.
👉 Pro tip: If you’re nicotine-free for 12+ months and your medical exam confirms it, some carriers will treat you like a never-smoker.
What If I Lie About Vaping on My Application?
Don’t do it. Life insurance companies often require:
A urine test
A medical exam
Access to your Rx history
Lab records & MIB reports
Nicotine can stay in your system for 3–10 days depending on usage, and cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, is what they test for.
If you lie and test positive, they can:
Decline your application
Charge you smoker rates anyway
Flag you in the industry database (MIB)
Honesty + smart broker = your best outcome. (That's us.)

Vape vs. Cigarettes vs. Nicotine Pouches – Rating Comparison
User Type | Typical Rating |
Never smoked or vaped | Preferred Plus |
Quit nicotine 2+ years ago | Preferred |
Vape user (JUUL, Elfbar, etc.) | Tobacco or Standard |
Dip or nicotine pouch user | Standard or Standard Plus |
Cigarette smoker | Tobacco |
Best Life Insurance Options for Vapers in 2025
✅ Lincoln Financial – Best for experienced vapers✅ Ethos No-Exam Life – Quick decisions, vapers may qualify✅ LifeStein.com – 50-state broker, knows which companies are vape-friendly
If you're using nicotine pouches like Zyn, VELO, or On!, check these instead:
Zyn Life Insurance Guide
VELO Pouch Life Insurance
On! Pouch Life Insurance
All Nicotine Users
How to Get Approved if You Vape
Be honest about how often you vape
Use a broker (like LifeStein) that works with every major carrier
Ask about non-nicotine options
Consider applying with a no-exam carrier like Ethos
Don’t try to game the test — the truth will surface
Bottom Line: You Can Still Get Life Insurance as a Vape User
Yes, vaping can complicate things — but it’s not a deal-breaker. With the right strategy, many vape users can still qualify for affordable, long-term life insurance.
✅ We know which companies to use
✅ We handle all 50 states
✅ We’ll fight to get you the best rate possible
👉 Click here to get a quote with vape use considered. Or call Matt Mims directly at (601) 218-7854 to get personal help.
Matt Mims
(601)-218-7854
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