Men pay an average of 38% more than women for the exact same life insurance policy, according to a new insuranceQuotes.com report. The gap grows with age: for example, 25-year-old men pay 25% more than 25-year-old women for the same policy. At age 45, men pay 32% more than women, and at age 65, the gap grows to 40%.

On average, smokers pay more than three times as much as non-smokers for the same policy (235%). Case in point: a non-smoking 45-year-old female pays $45 per month for $500,000 of 20-year level-term coverage and a 45-year-old female smoker pays $167 per month. Over the course of a full year, the smoker pays $1,462 more than the non-smoker.

Age is another key factor: 35-year-olds pay 27% more than 25-year-olds for the same coverage. The gap grows over time: 45-year-olds pay more than twice as much as 35-year-olds (120% more). The increases get even steeper after that.

"You can save a lot of money by getting life insurance while you're young," said Laura Adams, senior analyst, insuranceQuotes.com. "By locking in a level-term policy in your twenties or early thirties, you will benefit from much lower rates while protecting your loved ones for decades to come."

More information is available here:
http://www.insurancequotes.com/life/smoking-life-insurance-rates