Cigars and Health Insurance

[tengel78]

It's the time of the year at work when we need to re-enroll for benefits and we received our packet with all of the costs of Health, Dental, Vision, ect.
Our company made a change this year that includes a "discount" for being tobacco/nicotine free. This basically means if you are tobacco free, the premium is the same and if not, it goes up about $40 a month.
The wording is very vague and does not mention frequency, it just includes cigars as one of the forms of tobacco. Do any of you have something similar at work? I can't see how smoking 2-3 cigars a week is as dangerous as smoking a pack of cigs every day.

I know the cost isn't huge, but part of me wants to say I am tobacco-free because I usually don't smoke daily, especially during the wintertime.
Should I just eat the cost? I don't feel comfortable being dishonest, so I may have to do just that.

 

[navyvet]

Dont ask dont tell

 

[D Quintero]

just say no

 

[Daven]

I personally would not chance it and just pay the $40 bucks, it pretax so you wont really miss it, however this is just how I would do it. I thought about un-checking the box this year AS a 'tobacco user' but figured that would be a bad idea, I am also a more frequent smoker than you are.

 

[navyvet]

That is def a trap, once you say your a tobacco user you will always be a tabacco user it never goes away. Not only that say you decide to quit smoking you have to go a year two or three before you go back to reg prices, and they dont charge fat people diabetics or alcoholics its not a fair practice

 

[Craig Mac]

just say no

Agreed

 

[Catawbamatt]

Always deny it

 

[ChipS]

Not sure how yours is worded but at my company the rule for the tobacco free penalty was "No tobacco use in the past 30 days" and they specifically stated that the penalty cannot be added after the fact. I stopped smoking cigars for exactly 30 days and was able to dodge the penalty with a clear conscience.
This year however I didn't feel like stopping for 30 days so was planning on paying the penalty - however my wife's insurance through her company doesn't have a spouses tobacco clause and its cheaper so we are going down that path this year.

 

[joe45]

We have this through my insurance at my job. It doesn't affect me currently as I'm on my wife's plan. Ours is $75 extra/mo. It is refunded if you take the "stop smoking" phone class. I believe you have to call in like 6 times a year. There is no requirement to quit, only to call. My buddy who smokes cigars more than I do says that she is very nice when he calls and he usually has a cigar while talking to her.

I tend to think in worst case scenarios. If you say you don't smoke and stay healthy and never have a major claim, you would probably be fine. IF however, you end up with an illness at some point that is generally caused by smoking, I'm guessing the insurance company would do some research before paying out. I'd hate to see someone get sick with a six figure medical bill. I agree that occasional cigars doesn't carry the same risks as regular cigarette smoking, but if an insurance company can get out of paying a claim, trust me they will. They have investigators and attorneys on their payroll for that reason.

My job also has a truthfulness policy. Get caught lying on anything official and it would result in disciplinary action including possible termination. Not worth the risk to me. I'm sure there are plenty of people that lie about it. . . And also post there cigar pictures on instagram and Facebook. To my knowledge, no one I work with has gotten in trouble for it yet. . .

 

[ChipS]

IF however, you end up with an illness at some point that is generally caused by smoking, I'm guessing the insurance company would do some research before paying out.

My job also has a truthfulness policy. Get caught lying on anything official and it would result in disciplinary action including possible termination. Not worth the risk to me.

These are my top 2 reasons for making sure I'm following the rules.

 

[FullyArmedFISD]

agreed, check the wording carefully. for my company it defines a tobacco users as:

A tobacco user is a person who is currently smoking or using any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco products (including, but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes), within the three months preceding Open Enrollment.
---
another thing to consider is if your company does check-ups. a friend of mine at another company, i know they do swab test to check for tobacco use. my company does not do any tests, so declaring your tobacco use is strictly based on the honor system.

 

[tengel78]

agreed, check the wording carefully. for my company it defines a tobacco users as:

A tobacco user is a person who is currently smoking or using any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco products (including, but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes), within the three months preceding Open Enrollment.
---
another thing to consider is if your company does check-ups. a friend of mine at another company, i know they do swab test to check for tobacco use. my company does not do any tests, so declaring your tobacco use is strictly based on the honor system.

Yeah, I'm waiting to see the form and if there is anything mentioned about frequency, then I can make a decision on what to do.

 

[bostoneo]

I have to deal with this every year. If they bloodtest for it, simply quit smoking for 2 weeks.

 

[squaresoft]

agreed, check the wording carefully. for my company it defines a tobacco users as:

A tobacco user is a person who is currently smoking or using any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco products (including, but not limited to electronic or e-cigarettes), within the three months preceding Open Enrollment.
---
another thing to consider is if your company does check-ups. a friend of mine at another company, i know they do swab test to check for tobacco use. my company does not do any tests, so declaring your tobacco use is strictly based on the honor system.

wait...they count e-cigs? that seems kinda bogus

 

[ChuckMejia]

Id say be honest... there are plenty of people who hide it from their insurer but an autopsy wont lie bro.

 

[bostoneo]

wait...they count e-cigs? that seems kinda bogus

Really what they're testing for is cotinine, the byproduct of nicotine.

 

[RacFocus]

I have told them I was a tobacco even thou I smoke maybe 1 a week or 2. Especially during cold weather. My reason is this: if I ever develop a health problem that could be tied to smoking (lung cancer, any cancer in the gums or mouth, etc) I don't want the insurance looking at that and saying, you said you were a non-smoker. So we aren't covering you care because you lied about it.

I could be completely off base with my logic, but I don't want to take that chance.

In other words I'm in agreement with Joe45.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[marshall9779]

I must be lucky. I've never had to disclose whether I'm a tobacco user or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RacFocus]

I must be lucky. I've never had to disclose whether I'm a tobacco user or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you work for a smaller company or a very large company with many employees?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[joe45]

I have told them I was a tobacco even thou I smoke maybe 1 a week or 2. Especially during cold weather. My reason is this: if I ever develop a health problem that could be tied to smoking (lung cancer, any cancer in the gums or mouth, etc) I don't want the insurance looking at that and saying, you said you were a non-smoker. So we aren't covering you care because you lied about it.

I could be completely off base with my logic, but I don't want to take that chance.

In other words I'm in agreement with Joe45.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Exactly my point. I'd hate to see someone put in that spot while battling an illness.