Add me to the list of those getting screwed...

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DC2

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DC you have the right not the wrong but for me its an easy choice.I want to thank my mom for telling me to lie when you think its right,I play the greater good of me.Its not noble but makes me sleep better than if i paid a fee that was unjust.
It's not about being noble, as I am more than willing to lie.
It's that if you lie and get caught, bad things can happen, and I'm not willing to risk that.

But yeah, if the policy allows it then I will do what the poster above me (VapoJoe86) said.
I have no problem with that, other than it would mean I'd have to let them think they won, which is a very bad thing in and of itself.
 

DaveP

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I think that vaping, being a relatively new activity, has not been portrayed as a health improvement activity compared to cigarettes. It's portrayed as a stop-gap way to hang on to the smoking habit. People who don't smoke just wonder why smokers don't just quit. We all would like to hand them a list of things that they do to harm THEIR health and tell them when they've stopped all the things on the list, then we will give up our nicotine.

I love coffee and I vape when I have a cup of coffee in my hand. Both are relatively equal sins in terms of harm, but there's no evidence that tells me coffee is any better for me than my ecig. Then there's fat, salt, alcohol, and the list is quite long.

Apparently, nicotine is embedded into the actuarial tables as a major harm to health. As long as insurance companies fight it and raise rates, employers will pass the costs on, either in the form of across the board rate hikes or to single out smokers and nicotine users and force them to pay more.

We all know that tobacco is harmful. Nicotine, not nearly so much, but the tobacco product label on electronic cigarettes carries with it the stigma of harm.
 
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potholerepairman

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It's not about being noble, as I am more than willing to lie.
It's that if you lie and get caught, bad things can happen, and I'm not willing to risk that.

But yeah, if the policy allows it then I will do what the poster above me (VapoJoe86) said.
I have no problem with that, other than it would mean I'd have to let them think they won, which is a very bad thing in and of itself.

DC noble was a bad word,thought of not being covered for the big c from actual cancer left me up at night.Off topic a touch, i had to buy umbrella insurance and my county is 200% more than other counties in my state, thats cause of more sueing in my area.Back to point, my belief is smoking cancer will not take me so I refuse to pay for it, though i have not had a smoke for 4 freaking years.I may not be the best person for insurance advice, i have no hurricane insurance.
 

potholerepairman

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I think that vaping, being a relatively new activity, has not been portrayed as a health improvement activity compared to cigarettes. It's portrayed as a stop-gap way to hang on to the smoking habit. People who don't smoke just wonder why smokers don't just quit. We all would like to hand them a list of things that they do to harm THEIR health and tell them when they've stopped all the things on the list, then we will give up our nicotine.

I love coffee and I vape when I have a cup of coffee in my hand. Both are relatively equal sins in terms of harm, but there's no evidence that tells me coffee is any better for me than my ecig. Then there's fat, salt, alcohol, and the list is quite long.

Apparently, nicotine is embedded into the actuarial tables as a major harm to health. As long as insurance companies fight it and raise rates, employers will pass the costs on, either in the form of across the board rate hikes or to single out smokers and nicotine users and force them to pay more.

We all know that tobacco is harmful. Nicotine, not nearly so much, but the tobacco product label on electronic cigarettes carries with it the stigma of harm.

nothing to add but thanks for expressing it correctly
 

rabernet

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My company does a swab for cotinine and of course I tested positive. You think you are getting screwed? How about an additional $75 every 2 weeks for testing positive?

I was already planning on looking for another job. This was the final nail in the proverbial coffin. And I've been here 11 years.

I'm really holding out for my favorite boss who left to call me for an opening where he is. He keeps in touch frequently and tells me I'll be his first call. We got acquired 3 years ago and we even have a spreadsheet going on retention of our former coworkers. Everyone hates it. What's sad is that original employees of this major corporation all hate it now too and all cite the current CEO's arrival as to when the company quit caring for its employees.

Sent from my Samsung Note II using Tapatalk 2
 

potholerepairman

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My company does a swab for cotinine and of course I tested positive. You think you are getting screwed? How about an additional $75 every 2 weeks for testing positive?

I was already planning on looking for another job. This was the final nail in the proverbial coffin. And I've been here 11 years.

I'm really holding out for my favorite boss who left to call me for an opening where he is. He keeps in touch frequently and tells me I'll be his first call. We got acquired 3 years ago and we even have a spreadsheet going on retention of our former coworkers. Everyone hates it. What's sad is that original employees of this major corporation all hate it now too and all cite the current CEO's arrival as to when the company quit caring for its employees.

Sent from my Samsung Note II using Tapatalk 2



I feel for you in every way, when that test is better than 2/3 weeks i am screwed or have to be drink free for way too long for my liking.This insurance money grab needs to be as dead as rick james.
 

drivesbarefoot

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I'd go through the motions of doing a tobacco cessation program which use nicotine patches or gum as part of the plan and then if you ever had to be tested you could plead ignorance and say you had been using the gum occasionally as part of your tobacco cessation program to help you stay "quit". You would have documentation to prove it. They would have to be real scum bags to still come down on you for that I would think. It sounds like you don't vape at work so who would know. I know paying the $50 is peace of mind but like you said, either way they won.
 
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DaveP

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$50 is a slap in the face for being a nic user but it's much better than going without insurance or taking a job where you just pay more anyway. If the premium is reasonable, take it and suck up the slap in the face and chalk it up to their ignorance about ecigs. It's not the company ... it's their insurance carrier. Obamacare is doing similar things to smokers and placing the load on their backs.

It kills me to know that I'm paying two new car payments for health insurance and have been super healthy all my life. I've been admitted to a hospital once and that was for appendicitis, something most people have when they are young. I ride my exercise bike 5 miles several times a week and do 100 reps with free weights in conjunction with that. I wonder how many employees of companies can say the same. We aren't really the fit generation that Jack Kennedy wanted to create back in the 60s.
 

Ld3441

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I have not read the whole thread but this has been discussed before. It does suck, not fair or any other way you want to put it for tobacco users to be singled out. Tobacco use is defined by the insurance company and there is no way around it. Yes, you can lie but is it worth insurance denying your claim if something major was to happen? So you have a choice of paying a higher rate and know you are covered or you can lie and take a chance of paying for nothing. We should all know you can't win with insurance! I am one of the lucky ones so far my insurance company says e-cigs are ok but who knows when that will change.

I rarely use mine and my deductible is so high I will never met that unless something major happens. So basically I pay for nothing and the increase for tobacco use is outrageous but if that is what is required, I will pay it. There are many health risks out there but this is the only one that is targeted.
 

house mouse

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It's not about being noble, as I am more than willing to lie.
It's that if you lie and get caught, bad things can happen, and I'm not willing to risk that.

But yeah, if the policy allows it then I will do what the poster above me (VapoJoe86) said.
I have no problem with that, other than it would mean I'd have to let them think they won, which is a very bad thing in and of itself.

Since the paper you have does not forbid pharmaceutical NRTs, I'd go with attending the cessation class and always keeping some nicorette gum in my pocket in case of random testing. I'd have no problem with letting them think they've won because I'd know the real truth and be having the last laugh. Alone and out of earshot of course.:p

But I would ALWAYS hang on to that paper you have just in case somewhere down the line they decide to try to bust you out on using pharmaceutical NRTs. Unless they change the wording on the paper to include pharmaceutical products you should be fine.
 

Don Robertson

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The Affordable Healthcare Act is simply yet ANOTHER TAX paid by folks who will support all the "vote gathering policies of this administration. Those of us who planned for retirement and are somewhat financially stable - along with those WILLING TO WORK FOR A LIVING - will pay for the "subsidies" (aka: FREE CRAP) given to those too lazy to work. The Marxist / Socialist philosophy of Barack Obama and all those who think like him will TAKE YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS and REWARD those who "claim" they cannot find a job. Those who live beyond their means will be rewarded. Hard work is no longer an option! America will NEVER again be a "manufacturing nation" simply because NOT WORKING means people may sit at home and the government (aka: WORKING PEOPLE) will take care of their miserable butts!

From Senility Central - Old Man Don
I EARNED WHAT I HAVE AND AM PROUD ENOUGH TO WANT TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF MY LABOR! I DO NOT WANT TO GIVE IT TO FREELOADERS WHO REPRODUCE WITHOUT THOUGHT AS TO HOW THEY WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE! I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR HEALTHCARE OR ALL THE TOYS YOU BESTOW UPON YOUR SPOILED BRATS! GET A JOB - THEY ARE OUT THERE!
 

Vicshalls

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ah but you can only use nrt for so long. during that time you should be on a cessation program and once you complete it then you are nicotine free. or at least that is what my company policy is. They can test for nicotine which really upsets me. i feel as if i am no better than a drug addict that has to do a drug test. if nicotine is so bad then make it illegal and be done with it. dont treat me like a criminal. my company makes me pay 150 more a month cause i vape. last year was just 50 so plan on your company going up on that. the first year is just a warning period. my last company did the same thing. the first year was not so bad then the next year it went up so much it was sad. i am sure if we all got down to zero then we could pass the test and life would be good. at least the money i will be saving vaping will make up for the 150 a month they will be snatching from my check. i just have to make sure i dont go over my vaping budget so i can also pay my bills.
 

wv2win

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Frontal lobotomy

I already had one of those, and it didn't help much.
:laugh:

Listening to the current administration and nodding your head up and down, predisposes a frontal lobotomy:

sheeple3.jpg
 

EddardinWinter

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nope .. I'm very familiar with that case .. FDA has not yet deemed nicotine a tobacco product that I know of .. that's why I'm asking for a substantiated link backing up your original claim ..

http://www.fdli.org/docs/default-document-library/tobacco-product-deeming---combined.pdf?sfvrsn=0

They technically have not "deemed" it yet, but that is what they are in the process of doing, at least with regards to e-cigarettes.

Sec. 901: FDA has authority over “any other tobacco products” it
deems to be subject to the TCA.

They already have the authority. Assumed authority is as good as the real thing, at least until it is challenged.
 

DC2

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Opening salvo sent...

Hello XXXXX,

I have two questions (to start with) about the new Tobacco Surcharge Policy…

1) Can I get more information on exactly how this works?
Will participate in a tobacco cessation program during 2014

2) Why are electronic cigarettes included in this given that they are not tobacco?
Tobacco use includes the use of products like cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, cigars and electronic cigarettes.

Thanks,
XXXX
 
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