we all got a company wide email today stating that for our next enrollment for health insurance benefits, you have to declare your tobacco status. You will be considered tobacco free if you you have not used in 30 days. if you do use and not in a program to quit you will be fined $500 bucks.
they are offering free cessation programs.
im so glad i dont smoke.
*** edit. humm turns out E-cigs are "illegal" as well.
update #2
just got a reply from HR from a email i sent them.
Corporate responded that their decision is guided by findings from both the America Lung Association and FDA.
Definition of Tobacco Products
The extensive number and breadth of tobacco products being introduced by the tobacco industry each year (e.g., dissolvable tobacco products, tobacco strips and various types of electronic “cigarettes” creates significant complications in creating a consistent and workable definition of tobacco use. Some definitions of tobacco and tobacco use include a catch all phrase such as “other tobacco products” intended to cover emerging and future products derived from the tobacco plant that may not yet be on the market for consumers. Including this type of open-ended definition has the benefit of automatically including new and not-yet-known tobacco products as they are introduced without needing to go through any updating of plans, regulations, or guidance. In the context of insurance rating, however, attempting to include all existing and emerging tobacco products while leaving room for any another product that may be also used by the consumer is cumbersome and confusing to the insurer and the consumer.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that it considers a wide variety of products to be tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco, snus, dissolvable tobacco and e-cigarettes with nicotine derived from tobacco.
According to the FDA, “e-cigs. are considered to be a “tobacco product and NOT a cessation product”. The jury is still out on exactly how harmful e-cigs are. They are available in different levels of nicotine but virtually no one gets the ones without nicotine so the addiction remains intact.
E-cigs mimic smoking almost precisely so there is no change of habit (unlike a “step-down” nicotine patch on the arm, for example). Most tobacco cessation experts will argue that they are nothing more than a nicotine delivery device that imitates a cigarette.
they are offering free cessation programs.
im so glad i dont smoke.
*** edit. humm turns out E-cigs are "illegal" as well.
update #2
just got a reply from HR from a email i sent them.
Corporate responded that their decision is guided by findings from both the America Lung Association and FDA.
Definition of Tobacco Products
The extensive number and breadth of tobacco products being introduced by the tobacco industry each year (e.g., dissolvable tobacco products, tobacco strips and various types of electronic “cigarettes” creates significant complications in creating a consistent and workable definition of tobacco use. Some definitions of tobacco and tobacco use include a catch all phrase such as “other tobacco products” intended to cover emerging and future products derived from the tobacco plant that may not yet be on the market for consumers. Including this type of open-ended definition has the benefit of automatically including new and not-yet-known tobacco products as they are introduced without needing to go through any updating of plans, regulations, or guidance. In the context of insurance rating, however, attempting to include all existing and emerging tobacco products while leaving room for any another product that may be also used by the consumer is cumbersome and confusing to the insurer and the consumer.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that it considers a wide variety of products to be tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, smokeless tobacco, snus, dissolvable tobacco and e-cigarettes with nicotine derived from tobacco.
According to the FDA, “e-cigs. are considered to be a “tobacco product and NOT a cessation product”. The jury is still out on exactly how harmful e-cigs are. They are available in different levels of nicotine but virtually no one gets the ones without nicotine so the addiction remains intact.
E-cigs mimic smoking almost precisely so there is no change of habit (unlike a “step-down” nicotine patch on the arm, for example). Most tobacco cessation experts will argue that they are nothing more than a nicotine delivery device that imitates a cigarette.
Last edited: