if you died from a smoking related illness then no they wouldn’t pay out the benefit. They will ask to see your death certificate and that will state what you died of, if they are suspicious they will investigate further. There isn’t any point paying the monthly premiums on a policy you have lied on because they rarely will pay out.

after you die, yes. And it’s called “voiding the policy”, and it’s YOUR lie that voids the policy, the insurance company just finds out about it.

Your application must be truthful at the time you apply. If you aren’t a smoker when you apply, but pick up the habit down the road, there’s no fraud and the insurance company will pay. You never signed anything stating you will NEVER smoke.

Proving that a dead person committed fraud is extremely difficult! Once they agree to insure you, they’re are obligated to do so unless somehow, someway, they prove fraud, which again is extremely difficult!

There is a cost to acquiring medical records, so they wouldn’t do this just for fun. If you die during the contestability period, you better believe they want to make sure you didn’t make a factual misrepresentation on the application. If they successfully contest the policy, this may void your coverage. Don’t lie.

If you die of something caused by smoking…
they will likely check your records a bit

BUT they’ll still pay the claim – minus the amount you “should’ve paid” for premiums as a smoker