Does smoking or vaping raise my life insurance premiums?

Yes, and substantially. Insurers classify tobacco and nicotine users in a separate rate class, and smoker premiums commonly run two to three times higher than non-smoker rates for the same coverage. Most carriers treat vaping, nicotine gum, patches, and even occasional cigar use as nicotine use, and the medical exam typically tests for cotinine (a nicotine byproduct), so it is not something you can hide. The good news: if you quit, most insurers will reclassify you to non-smoker rates after you have been nicotine-free for 12 months, and a few after longer periods, which can dramatically cut your premium. If you recently quit, it is often worth waiting to hit the non-smoker threshold before applying, or reapplying once you qualify.