According to a report, 34.6% of adults in India are smokers, and more use tobacco in other ways. But what constitutes smoking or tobacco use, according to insurers?
When applying for a health insurance policy, insurers usually ask two important questions.
- Do you smoke?
- Have you smoked in the past six months?
A smoker is anyone who consumes tobacco in any form, including cigarettes, cigars, snuff, or chewing tobacco. And, if someone smokes more than four times a week and has done so for at least six months, then they are classified as a smoker.
Since insurers look at daily tobacco consumption as an indicator, those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day will usually face higher loading on their health insurance premiums.