Bzzzzzzt. Nice try, here are your parting prizes. Since smokers do not live as long, they have smaller healthcare bills than non-smokers. We all die of something, and we all spend thousands fighting for those last few months or years. The major difference? Smokers tend to fail more quickly, and at an earlier age.
(Personally, as an 8-year old, I watched my favorite grandmother hack her cancer-ridden lungs up until she died... and that was enough to keep me from ever trying the habit, despite the fact that both parents smoked.)
Now that I've checked, you've apparently gotten well-flamed for your post, so I think I'll defend at least one part of your response... the social safety nets DO make private health issues into public ones. For this reason, among many others, those "social safety nets" should be eliminated. If this is what you are implying with your post (although I honestly doubt it), then you'll probably find quite a bit of FReeper support. Otherwise, you'll want to keep the flame-resistant suit near-by. ;^)
On the other hand, my one grandmother died at age 42, full of cancer, never smoked a day in her life.
My other grandmother lived to be 86 years old, and smoked three packs of unfiltered Camels a day. Go figure.....