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The healthcare cost impact is more complicated. Smokers consume more healthcare at any given age, but die earlier and cost less in healthcare in their lifetime. At the national level the lifetime costs and aging population impact are arguably more important than single year costs.

NEJM[https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199710093371506]

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If the average lifetime increases noticeably there might be consequences on retirement, likely increasing of expense for pensions, and - before or later - an increase in minimum age requirements to access retirement/pension.

Right now - I believe - the set age is 65 years, which is "common" worldwide, but quite a few countries have gone in recent years or are going to 66-67-68 :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement_age

Agree, even more reason to discount the "taxpayers are paying for smokers choices" reaction

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