Vaping Changed The Habit, But Not The Insurance Risk
For vapers, this has far-reaching implications from an insurance perspective.
Few South Africans understand the impact vaping has on their long-term health and on their financial protection, warns Dr Tasneem Fredericks, a Medical Advisor at Sanlam. “Many people who vape believe it is substantially safer than smoking tobacco. While vaping may avoid some of the harmful products generated by tobacco combustion, it should not be regarded as harmless, and significant health uncertainties remain,” she says.
That could be a costly mistake. “Although vaping is often marketed as a less harmful alternative to smoking, it still exposes users to substances that may adversely affect cardiovascular and respiratory health. The full long-term effects, including possible cancer risks, are not yet fully understood,” says Dr Fredericks. “From an insurance perspective, the issue is not only known health risks but also uncertainty regarding the long-term effects of sustained nicotine and vaping-product exposure. These factors are considered when assessing mortality and morbidity risk.
That’s why it’s so important for consumers to declare their smoking status accurately – knowing that, as far as insurers are concerned, being a vaper does not make you a non-smoker.
“Some consumers see this as an insurance loophole, but it’s not,” says Dr Fredericks. “Substituting cigarettes for vaping will not lower your insurance premiums nor substantially lower your health risk. Life insurers generally classify any nicotine user – including vapers – as smokers.”
Accurate disclosure ensures that the correct premiums are charged and helps prevent future claim disputes or policy complications. “Failure to disclose your vaping habit to your insurer can be considered material misrepresentation, which may lead to claim rejection, reduced benefits, or policy cancellation – potentially leaving you and your beneficiaries without financial support,” says Dr Fredericks.
However, she adds: “If you remain nicotine-free for at least 12 months, you may be eligible for reassessment as a non-smoker. This can often result in significantly lower insurance premiums.”
What should vapers do?
If you currently vape, there are some practical steps to consider taking.
If you’re applying for insurance, declare your vaping or nicotine use accurately rather than assuming that being a non-cigarette-smoker means you can answer “no” to questions about tobacco or nicotine use.
If you already have insurance cover in place, check your policy and speak to your insurer if you are unsure whether your current nicotine use needs to be disclosed.
If you quit smoking or vaping completely, keep a record of when you stopped. Once you have been nicotine-free for the period required by your insurer, ask whether you qualify for a reassessment of your premiums.
Vaping is often perceived as less harmful because it lacks the smoke, ash and strong smell associated with cigarettes. But switching from cigarettes to vaping does not eliminate nicotine addiction, Dr Fredericks emphasises. “Regardless of whether it is smoked, vaped, chewed, or consumed through pouches, nicotine places ongoing stress on your cardiovascular system,” she says.
She adds that while vaping may avoid some harmful by-products of tobacco combustion, it still poses significant health risks – including cardiovascular effects (such as increased heart rate and blood pressure), respiratory effects (such as lung irritation and inflammation), exposure to toxic substances like heavy metals, and uncertainty about long-term health consequences.
The good news is that support and treatment are available to anybody who wants to improve their health (and lower their insurance premiums) by kicking the habit.
“Consult your doctor,” says Dr Fredericks. “Work with them to set a date by which you want to stop smoking, and give yourself regular check-ins to keep yourself on track. Nicotine is addictive, so vaping – like smoking cigarettes – should be treated as a genuine addiction. Avoid being around people who smoke or vape and speak to your healthcare provider about medications that can help with the cravings.”
When you put down the e-cigarettes or the vape pen for good, you’ll protect your future health – and, by being able to truthfully declare yourself a non-smoker, you could also boost your finances.