Smokers paying twice as much for insurance

SMOKERS are paying up to twice as much as non-smokers for life assurance and compulsory mortgage insurance, new figures show.

Life policies for non-smokers can cost as little as €16 a month, while smokers can pay as much as €31.45 for the same cover.

Smokers can pay as much as €11,322 overall for a standard 30-year policy that will pay out €200,000 if they die within the duration of the scheme.