Are we smokers or non smokers?
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I remember reading one ins company had a one year determining factor. Vape for one year, no longer considered a smoker.
I've known some companies in the past that do exams, will take a snip of your hair and test it for nic. If positive you're a smoker. I'd call and get their policy...don't forget to get the name of the person you're talking to.
Nonsense. We are vapers who don't smoke. Smoking carries far more harmful compounds than vaping. Are some of us addicted to nicotine? Yes. I'm not ashamed of that nor was I ashamed of smoking, I just found something far less harmful in vaping. The truth is the truth. It is not what makes us "feel good".
Regardless. There are some insurance companies that don't see it that way. If you check "Non Smoker" and it comes to light later that you vape, losing your coverage may be the least of your concerns.
I've found that most of the life insurance policy forms that get mailed to me ask about nicotine use instead of smoking.. I trash them all anyway. Giant freaking scam if you ask me. The insurance I get through work requires bloodwork, health check.. blah blah blah.. I just said I'm a smoker and cough up the extra 600 (900 now that the wifes on there too) bucks a year and don't worry about it. Last time I saw a Doc they already had me down as a Non-smoker from the previous checkup where I said I vaped and told em I still do.. Still a non-smoker to them. Insurance companies just look to squeeze every penny out of you to feed their overhead.
I don't give a rat's behind what an insurance company considers to be smoking. I haven't smoked or even taken a random drag from a cigarette in 5.5 years and therefore, I am not a smoker or a tobacco user. I would never say that I am either, even to an insurance carrier.
I also don't drink alcohol. At all. By some posters' logic, if I used mouthwash or cough syrup, I'd have to say I use alcohol, which is just utterly ridiculous.
I'm constantly amazed at the roll-over-and-take-it attitude of ECF members whose opinions I otherwise respected.
To the OP, it's your choice, nobody can tell you what may be the best answer for you.
I also don't drink alcohol. At all. By some posters' logic, if I used mouthwash or cough syrup, I'd have to say I use alcohol, which is just utterly ridiculous.
I'm constantly amazed at the roll-over-and-take-it attitude of ECF members whose opinions I otherwise respected.
To the OP, it's your choice, nobody can tell you what may be the best answer for you.
Its not a roll over and take it attitude. Its a "do I wanna risk my families welfare over a couple hundred bucks" attitude. If I had the time and money to fight this sort of thing I would.. but I don't. And I need the insurance so I guess I will roll over and take it. Been debating just saying to hell with it and cancelling altogether and if it was just me, I probably would. But I love my wife more than logically allowed so I'll pay. I'm a hypocrite on this and I'll admit it.
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If you took everything into context, you'll see most of us advised to call and ask what their policy is.
Getting caught in a "lie" with your insurance company is not good. And the companies DO speak to each other. Get blacklisted with one, and you may find it extremely difficult to find affordable insurance elsewhere.
When I recently went to a routine doctor appointment I told her I had quit smoking and I vape now. She wrote ex-smoker in my file.
Just in my experience.
Just in my experience.
Saying you don't smoke when you don't smoke is not a lie.
Saying you do smoke when you don't, is a lie.
Kind of a pot/kettle thing, isn't it?
Saying you do smoke when you don't, is a lie.
Kind of a pot/kettle thing, isn't it?
If the insurance company considers anyone testing positive for nicotine to be a "smoker" to them than its not a lie. Its just avoiding a pointless confirmation of what they want. They may have changed it to nicotine use instead but what's the difference? I don't want to be put through their little blood tests health check crap. If you were overweight you had to pay, if you had bad blood pressure you had to pay. I don't care to give them any more info than I have to. I could just say i'm a non-smoker and avoid their stupid tests and STILL have to pay but what if they made it a requirement that I PROVE IT.. I don't remember feeling bad that I was a smoker before I quit. Just hated feeling like crap alot. Why should I care what anyone else thinks now?
Man, I am liking your style @Scottitude 
BUT, for the time being we are all in a sketchy situation. I don't know what you guys have to go through will all this medical insurance (we don't have the same system) but I do know (other) insurance companies by their nature don't play by the rules. The only way to play their games is to ask for clarification about everything from A-Z when your circumstances change.
BUT, for the time being we are all in a sketchy situation. I don't know what you guys have to go through will all this medical insurance (we don't have the same system) but I do know (other) insurance companies by their nature don't play by the rules. The only way to play their games is to ask for clarification about everything from A-Z when your circumstances change.
Well if asked if I am a smoker I say NO since I am not BURNING or inhaling smoke from combustion. Since I am an X Smoker I am very happy I can say I am no longer a SMOKER. When I blow rings I call them VAPE RINGS. 
Here is an excerpt from a recent development in my State.
Let me google that for you
New York Court Rules Vaping Is Not the Same as Smoking
A New York court has ruled that, under state law, vapers can’t be charged for violating anti-smoking rules because—as millions of vapers have been repeating for years—vaping isn’t smoking. This is the latest sign of a gradual acceptance by lawmakers and legal systems that the distinction between the two is genuine and significant. In the face of imminent federal regulations, that distinction is paramount to the vaping industry.
Here is an excerpt from a recent development in my State.
Let me google that for you
New York Court Rules Vaping Is Not the Same as Smoking
A New York court has ruled that, under state law, vapers can’t be charged for violating anti-smoking rules because—as millions of vapers have been repeating for years—vaping isn’t smoking. This is the latest sign of a gradual acceptance by lawmakers and legal systems that the distinction between the two is genuine and significant. In the face of imminent federal regulations, that distinction is paramount to the vaping industry.
I believe it would be a magnificent step if we as vapers, could stop calling ourselves nicotine addicts. There is no such thing.
We have just been conditioned by the media for years that nicotine is evil and addictive. And here we are, still chanting their nonsense.
In the end it is water on the mills of insurance companies that test for nicotine.
Scientists have not been able to prove nicotine addiction exits.
They cannot get mice and rats to self administer nicotine even after long treatments with whatever crazy levels of exposure to pure nicotine they concocted.
The claims of nicotine addiction come from studies based on tobacco smoke, and at least those of us that have been vaping for some time now, can easily see the comparison in cravings. I am a 12mg dripper and have next to zero cravings at all. What remains is that we are used to the habit and feel of inhalation, which is why vaping works so tremendously well as a substitute.
If someone replaced my juice over night with a nic free version (myself being a high nic consumer), if the juice *felt* the same, i dort think i would notice.
We have just been conditioned by the media for years that nicotine is evil and addictive. And here we are, still chanting their nonsense.
In the end it is water on the mills of insurance companies that test for nicotine.
Scientists have not been able to prove nicotine addiction exits.
They cannot get mice and rats to self administer nicotine even after long treatments with whatever crazy levels of exposure to pure nicotine they concocted.
The claims of nicotine addiction come from studies based on tobacco smoke, and at least those of us that have been vaping for some time now, can easily see the comparison in cravings. I am a 12mg dripper and have next to zero cravings at all. What remains is that we are used to the habit and feel of inhalation, which is why vaping works so tremendously well as a substitute.
If someone replaced my juice over night with a nic free version (myself being a high nic consumer), if the juice *felt* the same, i dort think i would notice.
Given that the question is obtuse, what happens if you simply don't respond to it? And go with notion of a human would later state that it isn't filled out, and ask you to then explain why. This would be honest, no?
Or just call and ask up front for clarification.
Either way, I'd be telling them the question is poorly worded if they would have a non-smoking vaper respond yes to being a smoker.
Or just call and ask up front for clarification.
Either way, I'd be telling them the question is poorly worded if they would have a non-smoking vaper respond yes to being a smoker.
This isn't quite the same thing, but I ran into this issue when I was having elective surgery. The form asked if I was a smoker. I asked the nurse what I should put since I vape, not smoke. She checked with the doctor and he said they would test me for nicotine the morning of surgery and if I tested positive, they would cancel and keep 50% of my already paid in full fees. So, had I checked the box no since I am technically NOT a smoker, I would have lost several thousand dollars.
Granted, surgery and insurance coverage are two different things, but it still sucks. If your insurance company tests you after you put no, they probably wouldn't be happy regardless of the technicality of whether or not you truly "smoke". I don't know why they don't just ask if you use nicotine products. It's frustrating.
Granted, surgery and insurance coverage are two different things, but it still sucks. If your insurance company tests you after you put no, they probably wouldn't be happy regardless of the technicality of whether or not you truly "smoke". I don't know why they don't just ask if you use nicotine products. It's frustrating.
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