(ARA) - If you've been putting off shopping for life insurance because you're a smoker, or think you are paying exorbitant premiums because of your habit, it's time to start shopping around. Many people are overpaying for their life insurance because they don't realize that there are deals to be had out there.

Whether you smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, or have an occasional cigar or pipe, most insurance companies are going to offer you SMOKER rates - typically double, often, as much as triple, the price they offer non-tobacco users! So what's the secret to finding a company that will offer tobacco users more favorable rates - sometimes, even non-smoker rates?

"There's no secret. You just have to shop around," says Byron Udell, founder and CEO of AccuQuote, www.accuquote.com, a Web-based company that offers free online insurance quotes. "There is a lot of money to be saved by selecting the right company."

For example at AccuQuote, a 40-year-old male who is a smoker qualifying for preferred rates on a policy with a face value of $500,000 would be quoted $2,320 for a 30-year level term policy. If that same person qualified for non-smoker rates he would only pay $820 for the same policy. >nbsp;That's a savings of $1,500 per year and $45,000 over the length of the policy!

"Here at AccuQuote, we make it our business to know the different rules of multiple insurance companies. Only with this broad pulse on the insurance market is it possible to know which company might offer the most favorable rates to a given person, based on their individual profile," says Udell.

For instance, at some companies you must test negative for nicotine in order to qualify for non-smoker rates. While at others, testing positive for nicotine is acceptable. So if you're an occasional cigar smoker or tobacco chewer, you could end up paying a lot more than you have to. And if you're an ex-smoker don't think you'll automatically qualify for non-smoker rates. >nbsp;Life insurance companies usually require that you be smoke-free for at least one year; however some require longer periods.

Want to find out what kinds of rates you can qualify for? >nbsp;Log on to www.accuquote.com and fill out their simple online form. >nbsp;You'll get back quotes from several different companies in a matter of seconds. >nbsp;If you decide to purchase a policy, an AccuQuote agent will act as your liason with the company you select.

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