Vaping vs. Smoking: What advisors need to know about the new risk profile
By Katarina Nikolic, Vice President & Chief Corporate Underwriter, BMO Insurance
Updated 
4 min. read
If your client tells you they’ve “quit smoking” but now vape instead, that’s not the green light they may think it is. The truth? They’ve likely traded one health risk for another—as underwriters, we’re paying attention.
Over the past few years, vaping has surged in popularity amongst both new and former cigarette smokers. footnote 1 Many have a misguided perception that vaping is somehow harmless or even “healthier” than smoking. This is dangerously off-base. Nicotine is still very much in the picture. And with it comes addiction, lung damage, and a new set of concerns we all need to understand when assessing risk.
Vaping isn't risk free
Let’s start with the basics. E-cigarettes (aka e-cigs, vapes, and vape pens) contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance with known cardiovascular and neurological effects. The aerosol produced by vapes carries harmful and toxic chemicals, which, when inhaled, irritate lung tissues and may cause permanent damage.
Even young, healthy users have developed conditions like asthma and popcorn lung. For more vulnerable individuals, vaping can increase the risk of lung cancer and obstructive pulmonary disease.
The risk we don’t see: Packaging & dosage
One often-overlooked issue with vaping is how easy it is to lose track of consumption. When a client smokes a cigarette, they know how many they've had—they physically see the number go down in the pack. That visual cue often acts as a limit.
Vaping, however, doesn’t come with the same built-in stop sign. The cartridge isn’t tied to a single “unit” like a cigarette. Many users vape continuously throughout the day without realizing how much nicotine they’re actually consuming.
For example, a standard vape cartridge with 2 mL of e-liquid at 20 mg/mL (the legal maximum in Canada) contains 40 mg of nicotine. That’s roughly equivalent to, or even greater than, a pack of cigarettes. A client may be vaping more, not less, without even knowing it.
For teens, the risks multiply
Teen vaping introduces additional underwriting considerations. At this stage of development, nicotine exposure is linked to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and mood swings. It also affects focus and academic performance, and withdrawal can lead to irritability, restlessness, and poor sleep—especially when teens are unable to vape at home.
In some teens, we’ve also seen behavioral overlap with phone addiction; where the dependency pattern isn’t just physical, it’s also psychological.
The vape-cannabis connection
Something we see increasingly on life insurance applications… the correlation between vaping and cannabis use. Many people underestimate the impact of cannabis on underwriting outcomes, but the risks mirror those of vaping: impaired concentration, mental health strain, and addiction potential.
Cannabis use has been shown to increase among adolescents who vape. footnote 2 Even though it's legal in Canada, cannabis comes with its own set of considerations, particularly for younger or first-time users.
What this means for underwriting
Most insurers currently charge smoker rates for vapers, and we’re seeing a trend of tighter scrutiny around cannabis use, especially when combined with vaping. But many applicants don’t expect to be rated as smokers when they vape—and that’s where you, as their advisor, can help bridge the gap.
We’re not just looking at what someone uses; but how, how often, and in combination with what other substances. It’s all about the bigger picture. Vaping may not carry the stigma of smoking, but the long-term risks are real. As an advisor, you’re in a key position to help clients understand the impact of vaping on both their health and their insurability.
Whether it’s educating younger clients or helping clients understand why they’re still being rated as smokers, your guidance matters. This isn’t just about classification—it’s about helping people make informed decisions that support better long-term outcomes.
What advisors can do
Educate clients: Vaping may feel different from smoking, but the impact on underwriting is often the same—or worse.
Ask detailed questions: How often are they vaping? Is it nicotine or cannabis? Have they used cigarettes in the past? The more detail you have, the more accurate the application.
Clarify expectations: Clients may be surprised by smoker ratings for vaping. Helping them understand why goes a long way in building trust.
Footnote 1 details The smoke of the 20th century may be clearing, but vaping clouds are on the rise - Statistics Canada
Footnote 2 details Use of Electronic Cigarettes Among Cannabis-Naive Adolescents and Its Association With Future Cannabis Use | Adolescent Medicine | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network
Disclaimer:
The information in this publication is intended as a summary of our products and/or services and may include projected values based on a set of assumptions. Actual results may not be guaranteed and may vary. Please consult the appropriate policy contract for details on the terms, conditions, benefits, guarantees, exclusions and limitations. The actual policy issued governs. Each policyholder’s financial circumstances are unique, and they must obtain and rely upon independent tax, accounting, legal and other advice concerning the structure of their insurance, as they deem appropriate for their particular circumstances. BMO Life Assurance Company does not provide any such advice to the policyholder or to the insurance advisor.
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