By Meredith - October 1, 2019

The good, the bad and the deadly of using tobacco

Illustration of hands holding scissors and cutting a cigarette, and scattered cigarettes at the top.

Using tobacco impacts more than your wallet, and quitting brings benefits you wouldn’t expect.

Costs of smoking

  • One pack per day =
    • $2,200+ per year (U.S. average)
    • $84,000+ after 20 years (adjusted for inflation)
  • Insurance = Additional $245+ per year*
  • Medical care = Nearly $5,000 per year
  • Your body = Damage to almost every organ
  • 25 times higher risk for lung cancer
  • Up to 4 times higher risk of heart disease and stroke
  • Up to 40% higher risk of diabetes
  • Reduces fertility
  • Increases risk of miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth
  • Life expectancy 10 years less than non-smokers


Benefits of quitting

  • One pack per day = Saving $2,200+ per year
  • Lower insurance costs
  • Lower blood pressure and heart rate
  • Normal sense of taste and smell
  • Better breathing
  • Within 2 – 5 years: Stroke risk reduced to that of a non-smoker
  • Within 5 years: Risk of certain cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus) drops 50%
  • After 10 years: Death from lung cancer risk drops 50%
  • After 15 years: Risk of heart disease is same as a non-smoker
  • 90% less likely to die from smoking-related disease if you quit before age 40
*Based on BCBS PPO Plan associate-only payroll deduction.
sources: cancer.org, cdc.gov, smokefree.gov