Smoking Can Add Significantly to Life Insurance Cost

People who are interested in holding down their life insurance cost can often start just by quitting smoking.

While it's widely known that life insurance companies tend to charge smokers more, a report from the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation offers even more reasons to quit.

According to the report, 6 million people die each year from tobacco, draining about $500 billion each year from economies around the world. The organizations state that 2.1 million cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use, and that 25 percent of smokers die or become seriously ill during their most productive years.

"I'm not telling people how to live their lives, but I am certainly trying to educate them on healthy lifestyles and preventing this train wreck that potentially awaits them," said bicycle racing star Lance Armstrong, who is part of the organizations' campaign.

Overall, quitting smoking is just one of many changes that people can adopt in order to improve their health and prolong their lifespan. Along with better health, people who quit the habit can also usually expect to enjoy a lower life insurance cost.