In the type of practice that I have most patients are very health conscious and take care of their body. However, on occasion I do have a patient that smokes. I, like every other physician they have seen, explain the medical ramifications of smoking. Sometimes it is enough to convince them to stop smoking.
While reading a medical journal today I came across an article titled “Earn $1 Million If You Quit Smoking”. The article explained that if a person smokes 2 packs a day the cost per month is around $213. If a 25-year-old quit smoking and began investing this money in, say, the Vanguard Total Market Index Fund and kept the program going to age 65, they could be a millionaire. This was using a conservative 9% return. The article also pointed out additional saving with life insurance. A $1 million 30 year level term policy for a 30-year-old smoke costs about $3000/year while a nonsmoker would pay only about $900 per year. A savings of $480,00 by age 65.
Maybe for some smokers who are not motivated for health reason this financial information might be enough incentive to get them to commit to stop smoking.