If you begin smoking after the policy is issued then the answer is no. Most companies have a question on the application regarding smoking and depending on the policy you are purchasing they may require a blood urine or saliva test and will check for smoking before issuing a policy. If you lie an an application and you die within two years and the company finds out then your policy will not pay the death benefit. This is considered insurance fraud.
The life insurance company will definitely know if you smoke because that is something you disclose to them. To fail to do so would amount to insurance fraud which is subject to fines and possible imprisonment.
When applying for life insurance you want to get the best rate that you actually qualify for. Do not get a policy by withholding or falseifing information. You will not often come out ahead.
If you have an agent ever tell you to sign an application that has known wrong information, you should report the agent to your state's department of insurance. He is putting your financial security at risk by trying to make a quick and easy sale.
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
It depends, who else knows that you smoke? Does your doctor? Does your health insurance plan? Auto Insurance? If there is a written record of you smoking it more than probable that it will be inside the MIB (Medical information Bureau) and it will come up during the underwriting phase. There's the MIB and your doctor's chart notes that would be reviewed. Also depending on your state where they don't apply the contestability rules towards smoking. My state for example waives the two year contestability clause specifically for not declaring if a insured is a smoker or not. What that means is premium paid is returned and no contract was created.
When you apply for life insurance, the insurance company will ask about smoking on the application. If you take a No Exam policy, they will ask you about smoking in the phone interview. And if you are applying for a medically underwritten policy, they will test for nicotine in your blood and/or urine. If medical records are ordered and a history of smoking is noted in your medical records, they will take that into consideration, as well.
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When applying for life insurance you want to get the best rate that you actually qualify for. Do not get a policy by withholding or falseifing information. You will not often come out ahead.
If you have an agent ever tell you to sign an application that has known wrong information, you should report the agent to your state's department of insurance. He is putting your financial security at risk by trying to make a quick and easy sale.