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The NHS is planning to offer them on prescription and health chiefs believe they are 95% safer than tobacco.

But when it comes to cash in your pocket, insurers are still unconvinced by the safety of e-cigarettes, reports the insurance broker Drewberry.

This means smokers who switch from tobacco to e-cigarettes will still have to pay more for insurance related to your life expectancy or health.

Why smokers' insurance costs twice as much

Money up in smoke - cost of 30-year life cover Drewberry

Imagine two 35-year-olds takes out life cover. In this case, it’s a deal with the insurer that if they die within 30 years, the insurer will pay £100,000 to their loved ones.

The non-smoker has to pay £8.48 a month for this cover, or £101.76 a year.

But the smoker has to pay almost double that at £15.59 a month. That’s £85.32 a year more.

Drewberry director Tom Conner said: “Insurers are taking a conservative stance and none are offering discounts for e-cigarette users. We are not aware of any insurers who make a differentiation in their premiums for e-cigarettes.”

Do you count as a smoker?

Insurers are pretty straight-laced when it comes to smoking. While there’s no debate that the 20-a-day guy is a smoker, they also include people who may not consider themselves smokers.

Conner said: “If you only smoke occasionally or describe yourself as a social smoker, then you are still classed as a smoker.

“Insurers also do not take into account if you are using e-cigarettes or other cessation aids such as nicotine replacement gum or patches.”

Even using e-cigarettes WITHOUT nicotine may be viewed by insurers as a psychological addiction to smoking, he added.

How to get a better deal

(Image: PA)

It may be tempting to lie on your application form, but insurers may turn down claims if they find evidence of a smoking-related disease.

The good news is that if you can quit for a significant period of time, insurers will treat you as a non-smoker.

Conner said: “The only advice we can give to those who want cheaper insurance is to give up altogether. Insurers usually class you as a non-smoker if you have been nicotine free for 12 months.”

Of course, you can always shop around. You can search for life insurance on CompareTheMarket and USwitch.

If you’ve tried giving up too many times to count, there is one consolation. When it comes to buying an annuity on retirement, insurers won’t think you’ll live as long, so you can get a bigger payment each year.

And that’s when to start using e-cigarettes instead...