Cotinine testing - Day three of zero nicotine

[AndriaD]

It is the way of the world my friend.

Agenda motivated minds never - ever back down.

I seem to remember a whole Superior Race thing many decades ago. Took a World war to stop the movement.

I don't think it stopped it at all -- it just drove it underground; it's resurfacing now, in this guise. There will always be some group of humans convinced that their own group is somehow superior, and that some other group is inferior and deserving of hatred rather than compassion.

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

Why do I feel like a criminal after reading that?

Because you are being treated as one?

Andria

 

[leftyandsparky]

Hi I don't know a whole lot about this but can you go to your dr and pay a copay to have a blood test done for the carbon dioxide and show proof that way?

 

[rico942]

Even in retirement, I am horrified by the unbelievably invasive policies of employers in the current environment ...

Where does it stop ?

Random rectal exams ?

 

[crxess]

That's rather specific to that insurance company though. While it seems like a fair policy, I'm not sure all other companies adhere to it. In fact, I'm positive most don't.

That is not an insurance Co. They are an industry provider explaining both the product and Procedures which should be considered.

 

[nyiddle]

That is not an insurance Co. They are an industry provider explaining both the product and Procedures which should be considered.

Ohhhh my bad, I judged based on the URL that they were an insurance provider outlining their procedures.

But the point still stands, these guidelines aren't adhered to by most (or any) insurance companies. They'll classify you as a smoker if you come up positive for nicotine, regardless of how it was ingested.

 

[crxess]

Ohhhh my bad, I judged based on the URL that they were an insurance provider outlining their procedures.

But the point still stands, these guidelines aren't adhered to by most (or any) insurance companies. They'll classify you as a smoker if you come up positive for nicotine, regardless of how it was ingested.

Nothing against you or your Assumptions, but you should state them as such.
Cigna, for one - Is positive for e-cig support and offers simple 3 call cessation counseling requirements to approve full discount. Just an FYI

 

[DC2]

Cigna, for one - Is positive for e-cig support and offers simple 3 call cessation counseling requirements to approve full discount. Just an FYI

Hmmm, things are getting even more interesting now...

Cigna is the insurer through which I am getting health insurance from my employer.
And yet my current health insurance does not allow electronic cigarettes.

 

[nyiddle]

Cigna

Wait a second.. Enhance that image.

Cigna

Enhance...

Cig

*gasp*

Illuminati confirmed.

 

[Bunnykiller]

Hmmm, things are getting even more interesting now...

Cigna is the insurer through which I am getting health insurance from my employer.
And yet my current health insurance does not allow electronic cigarettes.

Cigna is an acronym... CIGaretts Not Allowed

 

[Nermal]

What does the cranberry (yuck, barf) juice do, flush your system faster? Well, obviously, but why?

The stuff is supposed to be good for some kind of liver issue. I've no idea how it affects test results, but there's all different kinds of 'cranberry' juice, and most of them have a large apple juice component. For the straight cranberry, you have to go to Walmart and get the store brand. Even then, you need to check the ingredients of the several varieties.

 

[Yiana]

There's a little bit of misinformation floating around about this.

In general, anything that is detectable in urine (at all) will take about a month to pass. Whether it's *ahem* illicit in nature or not. A little birdy told me cranberry juice or niacin pills will really help to cleanse your urine, but I recommend sticking around a bathroom if you're gonna consume a couple jugs of juice/a few pills a day because they're pretty strong diuretics (and partial laxatives).

Saliva, however, is waaay more flimsy. You can trick a saliva test with something as simple as using hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash. Someone who isn't me passed a saliva test despite imbibing in the very substance they were testing for the night before. But because they're so easy to fool I'd be very surprised if your insurance company used saliva as it's test. You never know though.

The saliva test is way easier to fool than urine. Listerine breath strips work to mask ya know other stuff. I know from a friend. I am on disability right now, so I have never had to take one. But I am wondering if that trick works on masking cotinine? May be worth trying at home of course, you wouldn't want to risk it there first.

 

[nyiddle]

The stuff is supposed to be good for some kind of liver issue. I've no idea how it affects test results, but there's all different kinds of 'cranberry' juice, and most of them have a large apple juice component. For the straight cranberry, you have to go to Walmart and get the store brand. Even then, you need to check the ingredients of the several varieties.

It's the niacin in cranberry juice that does it. If you buy cranberry cocktail or something, it might not have any niacin in it at all, so it's important to get actual "natural" cranberry juice.

Not sure the exact intricacies of it, but it acts as a detox thing and will make you urinate (and potentially poo) a bunch if you consume enough of it. By ...... a lot you'll pee out the nicotine and, ideally with enough detoxing, be nicotine-free after a few weeks. I've heard mixed results as it depends heavily on your metabolism, how much juice you actually consume, time since last use of the tested substance, etc...

 

[crxess]

Hmmm, things are getting even more interesting now...

Cigna is the insurer through which I am getting health insurance from my employer.
And yet my current health insurance does not allow electronic cigarettes.

Indeed, they have been my insurer through work since I started there in 2006.

I have never had reason to challenge them, nor have they ever mandated testing through my employer.

Not aware if anything has changed as I have been off since Feb.2015 due to ongoing complications from a Work injury. As of March 3, I will be officially uninsured and unemployed - but on Disability. Next up - the 3 ring Obama Circus

Quitting Smoking | Cigna

Generalized Bla..Bla..Bla

At the time of my last renewal, I marked Non smoker and was not challenged. My wife did the calls and after informing her coach she now Vapes, the coach side that was good enough and ended the sessions with approval.

* Your Company may be effecting Your coverage Specifics. It is all in the deals behind the doors.

ETA: Found this, latest info directly related so far.(2014)

Cigna Corp. says that, because the federal law didn't include e-cigarettes in the definition of tobacco use, the insurer isn't considering them tobacco use for the purposes of its individual and family health plans, whether on or off the ACA exchanges.

Burning Insurance Question: Are 'Vapers' Smokers?

 

[rhm3769]

My company is considered self-insured, although we're not using cigna.... Company policy drives the costs of our insurance.... We don't have smokers and non-smokers, we have tobacco users and non-tobacco users.... They consider vaping as tobacco use, right along with patches and gum and other "FDA approved" products.... You can't quit tobacco on your own, you have to go through the company's quitting program so they can monitor usage of NRTs and only after testing negative over a period of time after the course, you can be labelled as a non-user.... A non user gets $100/month off the family plans and $50/month off the individual plans.... There's no testing for anyone until you try to remove the user label, though....
Oh, what I find more ridiculous is they'll label you a user if you even have just a cigar in celebration of having a baby (if people still do that....). And, I could have a 17 year old smoking two packs a day and he wouldn't be considered a user until he was legally able to buy and use....

 

[crxess]

I'm thinking Pharma had more to do with ACA than people realize

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/pressoffice/2012/georgetown/coveragereport.pdf

Insurance and Cessation coverage

 

[Woofer]

Even in retirement, I am horrified by the unbelievably invasive policies of employers in the current environment ...

Where does it stop ?

Random rectal exams ?

Yep horrified.. it stops when we say it stops. <nods>
My response is (would be) No.
I didn't work for others much so no issues other than the boss was a

 

[FlamingoTutu]

It does. And it can act as a Blood Thinner. Also chucked full of "C" and Antioxidants.

Cranberry

I think Cranberry Juice taste Great. And in my Drinking Career, I was known to have put a Dash of Vodka in a Tall Glass of Cranberry Juice every now and again.

The stuff is supposed to be good for some kind of liver issue. I've no idea how it affects test results, but there's all different kinds of 'cranberry' juice, and most of them have a large apple juice component. For the straight cranberry, you have to go to Walmart and get the store brand. Even then, you need to check the ingredients of the several varieties.

Thank you zoiD and Nermal. Nermal, my husband looked horrified to learn his cranberry juice might be full of apple juice. Thanks for the tip.

The morning of Day 5 and test results are still positive.
I'm actually quite unpleasantly surprised by this.

You better do better tomorrow or I'll lose faith in you. But really, thank you for posting your progress reports, you're probably helping more people than you know. People using a patch, gum, inhaler, lozenges, vaping, etc., ought to get an insurance discount, not a penalty.

 

[zoiDman]

Thank you zoiD and Nermal. Nermal, my husband looked horrified to learn his cranberry juice might be full of apple juice. Thanks for the tip.

...

Some Cranberry Juices you buy also include Pear Juice.

For Taste, I actually like the Juice "Cocktails" better than 100% Pure Cranberry Juice.

 

[zoiDman]

The morning of Day 5 and test results are still positive.
I'm actually quite unpleasantly surprised by this.

So how is our Test Subject doing Today?

Are you Nicotine Free? And able to Compete in Olympic Events?