Smokers face higher insurance costs
Stuart Sheild - [email protected]
Published: 30 May, 2009 CET.
Updated: Sat 30 May 2009 15:03 CET
“Our aim is not to make more money; the added proceeds will be used to cover non-smokers, who will be paying lower premiums in the long term,” write Skandia Norden CEO Bertil Hult, Per Täckenström, medical risk assessor at Skandia Liv, and medical insurance advisor Dr Gundars Rasmanis in an article in Dagens Nyheter.
The authors add that those affected by the rise will also be offered help to quit smoking.
“The additional premium charge is intended to draw attention to the dangers of smoking and Skandia hopes it will contribute to a reduction in the number of smokers in Sweden,” the article continues.
The increase, of between 25 and 50 percent, will apply to all new policies, including health insurance, individual accident coverage, and life, premium-free and private care insurance.
According to the article, a person who has abstained from smoking for twelve months will no longer be required to pay the extra charge since the risk to the community as a whole will have been substantially reduced.
Comments
See Also
The authors add that those affected by the rise will also be offered help to quit smoking.
“The additional premium charge is intended to draw attention to the dangers of smoking and Skandia hopes it will contribute to a reduction in the number of smokers in Sweden,” the article continues.
The increase, of between 25 and 50 percent, will apply to all new policies, including health insurance, individual accident coverage, and life, premium-free and private care insurance.
According to the article, a person who has abstained from smoking for twelve months will no longer be required to pay the extra charge since the risk to the community as a whole will have been substantially reduced.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.