Anyone done the insurance thing? Switch from 'smoker' to 'nonsmoker'? any questions re: ecigs?

[seftonde]

I, like I'm sure many of you folks, am covered by a health plan at my place of work. I have routinely checked 'smoker', which causes my co-payments for insurance to be higher of course. The rules state that you have to be 'tobacco free' for a year to switch your status to non-smoker. I've only been vaping for a few weeks, and still steal about an analog or two a day, but I'm thinking that for next year's insurance I will claim 'non-smoker' status.

Anyone done this? Has anyone volunteered the information to their insurance companies that they 'vape' but no longer partake of traditional tobacco cigarettes? I am curious as to how the insurance companies look at this - any feedback or experiences would be welcome! Of course you could always just say you have been smoke free for a year and leave it at that

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[Annie4051]

Good Question and I hope you get a good answer. Haven't tried it, but we can't open enroll until next month

 

[kellogg]

I think the question is worded something to the effect of "do you use any nicotine products?" Since you are still using nic juice you are supposed to answer yes. Then they can charge you the higher rate. Nice of them, huh?

The nicotine will show up in a drug test, too. They will even charge the higher rate to someone on the patch or gum, too.

 

[Annie4051]

ours is worded do you use any tobacco products and since I use 0mg a drug test would be fine too. Still a very interesting question to say the least.

 

[kellogg]

Good for you, Annie. I hope you get the nonsmoker rate!

 

[Annie4051]

Well I have only been at 0mg for about 6 weeks. Vaped an 8mg for about six months. Thanks Kellogg for the good for me I probably won't even try this until open enrollment 2012

 

[FreakyStylie]

I have (but not currently) worked in insurance for a number of years, so I can verify that they will most likely make a connection to vaping being a tobacco product, being as how the nicotine in the juice comes from tobacco plants. If they find out about it later, some companies may do merciless things such as make you pay back premiums, cancel insurance, file against you for insurance fraud . . . . It might be safer to ask them.

 

[seftonde]

Hi Freaky, - yea, I assumed that what you said would be the case. Again, I won't worry about it until next year, when I'll either ask, or just assume the 'smoker' rate. I'm willing to pay the increased premiums as 'insurance' for my insurance

d

 

[DocWyatt]

It seems to me that if it is worded "use of tobacco products" you can answer no as vaping is not a tobacco product. Vaping "peach" with nicotine in it is not tobacco in any way.... A lot of things have nicotine in them, not just tobacco.

Unfortunately, I have not quit smoking, as of yet. So I may have to check BOTH boxes if they existed... ha.

Do you smoke? Yes?

Do you Vape? Yes

Do you Drink? Yes

Application Rejected...

 

[kodos96]

It may be worth pointing out that according to the NJOY/Smoking Anywhere vs FDA lawsuit, e-cigs are legally considered tobacco products (since the nicotine is extracted from tobacco). And that's a good thing for us, since it means the FDA can't regulate them as drug delivery devices.

 

[markdpman]

I recently updated my life insurance (not thru work but personal insurance) and asked the same question. My wife quit smoking several years ago and I was able to get the better rates on her but I was asked if the vape I used had nicotine in it, if it did then I wouldnt qualify. They also sent a person to take a saliva swab from my wife to verify she was nicotine free. Hope this helps.

 

[grimshiggy]

Since my job does their own insurance, they do know about vaping and PV's. There are questions that ask if you are using tobacco products and/or vaping.....so, in that case, I have had to say yes. Haven't really asked about how long I would have to stay nic-free before I can change the answers to no AND not even sure if I stay at 0 mg nic, will i be able to continue to say no, even though i vape.....good questions to ask!