Lifestyle Habits That Can Lower Your Life Insurance Costs

Lower your life insurance costs without sacrificing coverage…

You might not realize this but your daily lifestyle habits directly affect your life insurance premiums. The healthier you live, the less you pay each month.

And did you know…

Making some simple lifestyle changes can reduce your life insurance premiums by up to 25%. That’s extra cash in your pocket just for living healthier.

What you’ll discover:

• Why Insurance Companies Care About Your Lifestyle Habits
• Quit Smoking — The Single Biggest Money Saver
• Exercise Regularly for Premium Discounts
• Maintain a Healthy Weight and BMI
• Limit Alcohol Consumption

Why Insurance Companies Care About Your Lifestyle Habits

Insurance companies are NOT snooping when they ask about your daily habits.

They’re calculating risk.

Here’s why it matters: The healthier you are, the longer you’re expected to live. The longer you live, the more insurance premiums you pay and the less likely they are to have to pay out your death benefit in the near future.

It’s just math.

When you can prove you live healthy lifestyle habits, insurance companies will reward you with lower rates. Insurance companies like Ethos life insurance and many others have made accurate lifestyle risk assessment their business model to offer competitive rates to the healthiest applicants.

The best part about making positive lifestyle changes to save money on life insurance?

You get to be healthier AND save money at the same time. It’s a win-win that keeps on giving year after year.

Quit Smoking — The Single Biggest Money Saver

Okay, this one’s a no-brainer but it bears repeating…

Smokers pay 2-3x more for life insurance than non-smokers.

Recent industry research found smokers can pay up to 50% more than non-smokers for the same life insurance policy. And if you’re an occasional smoker, insurance companies will treat you the same as if you chain smoked for years.

The good news…

Most insurance companies will reclassify you as a non-smoker after 12 months of being tobacco-free. This means huge savings starting in year two of your quitting journey.

Let’s do the math:

• 40 Year Old Male Smoker: $120/month for $500K coverage
• Same Male Smoker, 1 year non-smoker: $80/month for the same coverage

Same profile, non-smoker: $40/month for the same coverage

That’s $960 per year back in your pocket just for quitting smoking.

Exercise Regularly for Premium Discounts

Regular exercise isn’t just good for your health anymore, it’s a direct pathway to insurance savings.

Insurance companies are rolling out new wellness programs that track your fitness activities and reward you with premium discounts of up to 25% for meeting fitness goals.

Some of the activities that count include:

• Regular gym workouts (tracked with wearable devices)
• Tracking 10,000+ steps per day
• Participating in fitness challenges
• Healthy vital signs and resting heart rate

John Hancock’s VitalityPLUS program allows you to earn points for healthy behaviors. Achieve Silver status and get 5-7% off premiums. Reach Platinum status and save up to 25%.

Want to maximize your savings?

Start tracking your workouts now before you apply for insurance. Showing a history of fitness data will help insurers see you’re committed to long-term health.

Maintain a Healthy Weight and BMI

Weight is a direct factor in your life insurance premiums.

Insurance companies use Body Mass Index (BMI) as one of their main health metrics. If your weight puts you in the “normal” BMI range (18.5-24.9), you’ll get preferred rates.

But did you know…

Even being slightly overweight can bump you up to a higher premium rate class. The difference between a BMI of 25 and a 30 can cost hundreds more per year.

Some insurance companies even offer preferred smoker rates for smokers who maintain healthy weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. This can be a 15-20% savings for smokers who maintain ideal body metrics.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Heavy drinking is a red flag for insurance underwriters.

Moderate drinking (1-2 alcoholic drinks per day) is usually fine. But excess drinking or a history of alcohol-related problems WILL increase your premiums.

Insurance companies look for:

• DUI convictions
• Hospitalizations related to alcohol
• Self-reported heavy drinking
• Liver function tests

The solution?

Keep your drinking in moderation and document any periods of sobriety if you’ve had issues in the past. Insurance companies often will reconsider your rates if you can prove long-term sobriety.

Manage Stress Through Healthy Outlets

Chronic stress literally kills.

Insurance companies know high-stress lifestyles lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions that shorten life expectancy. That’s why they’re beginning to reward stress management activities.

Stress reduction activities that can lower your premiums:

• Regular yoga or meditation practice
• Consistent sleep schedule (7-9 hours per night)
• Stress management programs
• Maintaining work-life balance

Some insurance companies now offer discounts for completing mindfulness programs or using stress-tracking apps that show healthy patterns over time.

Choose Safer Career Paths and Hobbies

Your job and hobbies directly affect your life insurance rates.

Jobs that raise premiums due to higher risk:

• Commercial fishing
• Logging
• Construction work
• Professional racing
• Military service

Hobbies that raise rates:

• Skydiving
• Mountain climbing
• Motorcycle racing
• Deep-sea diving

If you’re in a high-risk job, consider the potential long-term insurance cost savings if you switch careers. Premium savings alone may justify changing to a lower-risk career path.

Get Regular Health Screenings

Prevention pays dividends when it comes to life insurance.

Regular checkups and preventive care show insurance companies you’re being proactive about your health. This can get you into better health classes and lower your premiums.

The key screenings underwriters care about:

• Annual physical exams
• Regular blood pressure checks
• Cholesterol testing
• Cancer screenings (mammograms, colonoscopies)
• Dental cleanings

Document your health. When applying for life insurance, detailed records of regular preventive care can be the difference between standard and preferred rates.

Smart Implementation Strategies

Ready to get started saving? Here’s your action plan…

Tackle the big impact items first:

1. Quit smoking (if you smoke) — biggest potential savings
2. Build regular exercise routine — track fitness data
3. Get comprehensive health screening — baseline health status
4. Optimize your weight — sustainable diet changes

Measure everything. Wear fitness trackers, use health apps, and organize medical records. When you apply for insurance, this data provides proof of your healthy lifestyle commitment.

Be patient. Some changes (like quitting smoking) take time to reflect in your rates. But the long-term savings can be huge.

Making Your Lifestyle Work for You

Changing your lifestyle to lower life insurance costs is about more than just saving money.

It’s about living longer, feeling better, and protecting your family more affordably.

Recent research found 42% of adults believe they don’t have adequate life insurance. The biggest reason people don’t buy life insurance is cost.

By optimizing your lifestyle, you can remove that barrier and make comprehensive life insurance affordable.

The bottom line:

Your daily choices compound over a lifetime. Make them count. Choose lifestyle habits that save money today and add years to your life tomorrow.

Start with one habit. Master it. Then add another.

Before long you’ll be earning preferred rates while reaping the health benefits that come with them.