Are We Still Considered Smokers or are we Non Smokers.

[leannebug]

According to the people in my life that matter..: myself, my children, my family, my doctors... I am a non-smoker

What my insurance company thinks, is unknown at this time (I have not checked on THEIR requirements) However, as DC said, it depends on the individual company. I know someone on the forum that was told by her company, that she now falls into the NON-smoking category.

I'd check with yours if you really want to know.

 

[ScooterGirl]

Non smoker, definitely. As for what insurance companies think I guess that's up them. They usually base everything on nicotine levels (or cotinine levels, to be more precise) so I suspect many would consider us smokers (insert the plural of old fashioned word for child born out of wedlock here).

 

[Cil]

Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress. A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.


So to answer the question, I'm a non smoker and have been since 010110. woohoo!

 

[Al Capwn]

Depends what crowd I'm with, if I'm with non-smokers then I'm a non-smoker but when I'm with smokers then I'm one of them just a more health concious version.

 

[Gat]

Ok some good points but if your are saying that we are tobacco users because of nicotine what about people who are getting nicotine from Nicorette products do they still fall under tobacco users as well? I figured this is pretty much the same as nicorette users meaning we are nonsmokers that get our nicotine from another product, I am not trying to apply for insurance myself, I have had insurance since I was born.
I was just curious as to peoples experience with insurance company's and what people considered themselves.What if we are vaping 0mg nicotine and using a nicotine patch to get the nicotine are you still considered a tobacco user? I had no idea their was a tobacco user a smoker and then nonsmoker categories when applying for insurance. I thought their was only the two.

 

[quittin4mykids]

Dipping, chewing, and snuff are also ways of using tabacco- although they are not quite as prevelent as smoking- But someone who dips is not a smoker- they get mouth cancer/throat cancer instead of lung cancer and COPD.

My grandmother quit smoking and chewed that gum for about 5 years- she was a non smoker- yet had nic in her system.

 

[AttyPops]

Non. Definitely non.

And... it ticks me off when someone comes in here and asks "When you smoke your 510...." Grrr. I haven't smoked in 11 months. It's presumptuous and offensive to say so. The problem is that the terminology is new. People don't know what to call it, so they call it smoking out of ignorance.

It is scientifically not smoking. Medically it is not smoking. And....I believe legally, it is not smoking. It may be considered tobacco use, although I try to be as "tobacco free" as possible... and I consider this to be as tobacco free as gum or lozenge users.

 

[unfaithful]

According to my boyfriend I'm still a smoker as he keeps telling me to stop smoking when he sees how much I vape .

 

[txtumbleweed]

Definately a non-smoker and have been for 18 months. I personaly don't care what the insurance companies say. I'm 70 and all I need is burial insurance and I have that. lol

 

[Cil]

Definately a non-smoker and have been for 18 months. I personaly don't care what the insurance companies say. I'm 70 and all I need is burial insurance and I have that. lol

You've got another 30 Years, at least, now you vape, and you never know we might have found the elixir of life. so I would suggest we keep vaping, just in case. lol

 

[Luther]

I am a non-smoking nicotine addict.

 

[Cil]

I am a non-smoking nicotine addict.

and a stones fan by the look of it.

 

[Luther]

The Greatest Rock n Roll band in the world!

 

[Secti0n31]

Tobacco user = No. Smoker = Kinda, Nic addict = Not as much as I was when I was smoking, but yes.

That's strictly by the "if it looks like a duck" formula. Most PV's are 510 or blu or 808 minis that light up on the "flame" end, so they do "look"similar. Those of us who uee egos or rivas look like we're smoking (insert illegal substance) out of a bat or a 1-hitter, and mods.... well the vast majority of tube mods look like homemade explosives.

We may not be "smokers" but we are an odd bunch for sure. I am still waiting on availability to buy my first mod, but I am very leary of some of them because they do look quite ominous. I don't know how self conscious I'd feel about vaping on an empire or a roughstack because of the cosmetic issues. Where a GLV or a box mod just looks "too different."

So in the long run, assuming I was on the outside looking in, I'd say that we ARE smokers that are healthier, and don't smell bad.

 

[subversive]

If I ran out of batteries or liquid or was away from home for an extended period of time for some reason, and someone offered me a cigarette, I would smoke it. That's the difference between me and a committed cold turkey or NRT quitter. Then I would go home and happily vape without a desire to smoke. Of course, I'm just one person. But I don't think I'm really a smoker or a non-smoker. I'm somewhere in-between. As far as what would go on an insurance application...it's all going to depend on the company and what they do if you test positive for nicotine.

 

[Phroge]

According to my boyfriend I'm still a smoker as he keeps telling me to stop smoking when he sees how much I vape .

Your boyfriend is wrong, and probably not worthy of your affections.

 

[stretchpants]

I am a non smoker.I am a vaper. My doctor says I'm a non smoker.She has acknowledged that I have indeed quit smoking and is quite happy about it.As am I.

 

[Wil]

Just a thought on this...

I've worked with a lung transplant team before, albeit in a non-clinical role. I've been around discussions of urine cotinine testing as it relates to smoking. While I do not know the specifics, I can tell you that there are ways to tell the difference between an actual smoker and an "ex-smoker" on nicotine replacement therapies. I'm not sure if it has to do with the way nicotine is metabolized, but I got the impression it had more to do with the products of combustion that were the tell-tale signs of actual smoking. If that is the case, a urine cotinine test for us would appear similar to or the same as a person on the patch/gum/lozenges.

Of course, to be considered for lung transplant, one must be tobacco free for at least six months, as proven by urine cotinine testing. The selection process is very complicated, as a result of the fact that there's a higher demand than supply of the "cure" being offered. There has been much talk lately as to how to handle those on NRT, and whether that counts as "tobacco free" for the terms of being tobacco free for six months prior to listing for organ transplant.

With all that said, I know NOTHING of insurance companies' ideas as to vaping. As with so many things here, YMMV.

Hope that sheds a little light on the subject...
W

 

[Wil]

Double post, deleted.

 

[asidrave]

The insurance companies basing their rates on a smoke-free nicotine user is BS. Nicotine does not kill...it alters your body and mind just like caffeine and aspirin. I dont believe anyone has ever died from nicotine in their system.

Another example would be Swedish snus and nasal snuff....both pure tobacco and no one taking them has ever died from a related cancer