E-cigs & Blue Cross/Blue Shield Regs

**skullsoup432** · 03-05-2009, 01:06 PM

I had two knee surgeries about 5 years ago and BC/BS was my health provider. This was my employers coverage. If I remember correct, they were worried about adverse effects with the anaesthesiology as well. I guess smokers have a higher negative reaction to it.

**Momof3** · 03-05-2009, 02:33 PM

I don't know about BC/BS and the surgery issues, but I do know I'm listed as a tobacco user with my current life insurance and I had not smoked for 3wks before they did the saliva test. Like the DNA swabs you see on TV. Cotton swab in the mouth.

I was looking at switching companies and the lady told me at least 30 days off nicotine if I wanted a chance at passing, but 60days should guarantee it. How accurate that is or whether it's actually the nicotine and not something else, I can't say. That's just what the insurance lady told me. HTH

Forgot to say I've had many issues with BC/BS over the years over a range of things. Things like refusing to cover my son's birth because he was too old to be listed as a dependent. Now I was 21 at the time and this was the charges for his birth. They kept insisting he was something like 64yrs old. Rather than just fix the error on his DOB that whoever had made when they entered it into the computer, I had to physically take him into their offices so they could inspect him to verify he was indeed a newborn infant.

Once they finally fixed the error they told the doctor's office to resubmit. When she did they then denied the claim saying the doctor had waited too long to file. Good luck with them.

**Idahojo** · 03-05-2009, 04:17 PM

Thanks for all the input. Supposedly they say smoking affects the healing process. I'm on BC/BS with work and answered truthfully on the initial papers. But I don't remember anywhere in the literature where they said they could deny me healthcare because of smoking. I live in Idaho. But I would like to know if it's the nicotine that affects the healing or the actual smoke from analogs that affect it.

**QueenInNC** · 03-05-2009, 04:26 PM

I have wondered about e smoking and health/life insurance. What if I had quit smoking for 6 months but still used the patch? Nicotine would still show, but I am not smoking. ya know?

**Cellmeister** · 03-05-2009, 04:31 PM

BC/BS is a Big Wolf in Sheep's Clothing!

Just Beware of BlueCross / Blueshield!

Their CEO's Hit The Most Outrageous Pay Scale Then Got High Raises On Top Of That!

In A Recent News Report BC/BS is Claiming Big Loss's! What a Crock of Shiet!

BC/BS = Money & Greed

They Pulled Some Crap With Me Several Times As Well, I had it corrected but it was hell!

Screw BC/BS!

Keep Vapin!

**Cellmeister** · 03-05-2009, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by QueenInNC

I have wondered about e smoking and health/life insurance. What if I had quit smoking for 6 months but still used the patch? Nicotine would still show, but I am not smoking. ya know?

Hi QueenInNC,

Some Companies Do Test for Smokers By Testing For Nicotine In The Blood!

With The Patch or Other Nicotine Source You Will Be Considered A Smoker With The Companies That Do Test For Nicotine.

But Not All Insurance Companies Use The Nicotine Test, But it is standard with most of them!

I think Testing For a Smoker with the Nicotine test is BS!

But How do we change a standard test?

Hope this Helps!

**QueenInNC** · 03-05-2009, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Cellmeister

Hi QueenInNC,

Some Companies Do Test for Smokers By Testing For Nicotine In The Blood!

With The Patch or Other Nicotine Source You Will Be Considered A Smoker With The Companies That Do Test For Nicotine.

But Not Insurance Use The Nicotine Test, But it is standard with most of them!

I think Testing For a Smoker with the Nicotine test is BS!

But How do we change a standard test?

Hope this Helps!

I agree!!!!

**MonkeyMonk** · 03-05-2009, 04:58 PM

Found this scary article

The Ever Rising Health Care Cost, has to be Cut off Now. | NowPublic News Coverage

".... Last week I took part in a think Tank about the future of Health care...

The most realistic coast savings would be achieved with deeply ethical and moral changes, such as no longer keeping coma patients on live support for longer then a month. Alternatively, letting severely handicapped and premature new-born babies dye rather then put them through life support, surgery and highly questionable interventions. Each premature new-born not receiving such intervention would save around $700,000.00.

In addition putting a cap on life saving surgeries such as an age limit of 70, meaning no more surgeries can be performed after that age no matter the cause.

For terminally ill patients such as cancer patients allow assisted suicide or also called dignified dying aid. Other such issues came up of course and many questions where raised, both ethical and pragmatical."

This is very scary to me... Who is next??? America better wake up! It reminds me of the premises of Nazism and that perfect race.