Deeming Regulations have been released!!!!
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I'm an employer. I buy group insurance for my employees from Independence Blue Cross. Each adult covered must declare whether they are a tobacco user or not, and the rate for that person reflects their age and whether or not they are a tobacco user. I could easily charge the tobacco users the difference in premium that results from their status, but I don't.
What's interesting is that IBX does not consider vapers to be tobacco users. A couple of years after I switched to vaping, my insurance broker / benefits consultant asked me why I'm still paying that rate for myself since I wasn't smoking anymore. I told him: Because I'm still using this (held up my vape) and the FDA is about to classify it as a tobacco product. He replied: Nope, IBX doesn't consider it tobacco use. I told him: Get that in writing for me, and he did.
Someone else posted on this forum... Sorry, can't remember who or where, but the gist was that their insurer didn't classify an occasional cigar smoker, less than 2 a month, to be a smoker for their purpose.
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I don't have the exact details in front of me, but I would say that's correct. I have one employee who does smoke an occasional stogie, and who will take a dip when he's out in the woods hunting in the fall, but it's infrequent enough that it did not qualify him as a "tobacco user".
ETA: What it boils down to with him is that he won't use tobacco at work, or when his wife or kids are around.
Someone enjoying something that they're not making money off.
I really don't understand I get it's a big country but it's SO messed up. VAPE, dont' vape, SMOKE don't smoke, TAX no TAX.
I don't even know what the pols WANT me to do anymore!! Good LORD!
And @Rossum, GOOD for you. Thank you for being a decent employer.
Anna
I don't even know what the pols WANT me to do anymore!! Good LORD!
And @Rossum, GOOD for you. Thank you for being a decent employer.
Anna
Certain Humana plans do not consider vape to be tobacco use and the occasioal cigar is not tobacco use.. The devil is in the definitions.
Yep, that's why I insisted on having it in writing from them before I switched myself to the lower premium classification on their paperwork. The last thing I'd want is to end up in the hospital with some ailment that could be blamed on smoking and then have them deny coverage because I mis-stated my status as non tobacco user.
Knowing Humana, I want to say the milk of kindness flows through their veins but they are one of the most incompetent insurance companies it has been my distinct displeasure to deal with (not for me!) and they probably think vaping kills you off in two years or something.
My favorite theory about the sick vape kids is they thought they were buying an illegal psychoactive drug. Something bad got in the mix. They had to go to hospital but didn't want to admit they might be breaking a law so they dispose of the evidence and play dumb. Regardless the articles on the story are dishonest. Trump calls it fake news. I call it fake journalism. I look forward to the day when their influence is gone. I'd also like to see future patents on medical drugs banned. Then I would abolish the FDA.
Well, as long as you are good with the drugs we have.
I actually do sort of understand the rationale for patenting drugs, although I do think that (even given very conservative estimates of what it costs to "make" a drug) the cost of new drugs are pretty obscene.
I take older drugs over younger ones whenever I can because actually that is the ONLY way their long term side effects are known.
I will also say that since every body/brain meeting each new drug is different-- good luck. You are in your own personal drug study so pay attention.
IDK I guess the vast funds the FDA sucks up could be applied to new drug development or whatever, but something would have to like, give.
I don't really know how to call it whether the FDA does more harm than good.
BUT I can with ABSOLUTE confidence say: Legalize everything. There is not a single country that has done this that has not seen increased tax revenue, decreased crime, and etc.
I mean I'm sure the US would find a way to ruin it somehow, but I'd be interested in FINDING OUT how, I guess I'd like to say. The attempt should be made.
Teens should at least be able to get diverted "regulated' illegal drugs, and be as safe as anyone else.
Anna
I actually do sort of understand the rationale for patenting drugs, although I do think that (even given very conservative estimates of what it costs to "make" a drug) the cost of new drugs are pretty obscene.
I take older drugs over younger ones whenever I can because actually that is the ONLY way their long term side effects are known.
I will also say that since every body/brain meeting each new drug is different-- good luck. You are in your own personal drug study so pay attention.
IDK I guess the vast funds the FDA sucks up could be applied to new drug development or whatever, but something would have to like, give.
I don't really know how to call it whether the FDA does more harm than good.
BUT I can with ABSOLUTE confidence say: Legalize everything. There is not a single country that has done this that has not seen increased tax revenue, decreased crime, and etc.
I mean I'm sure the US would find a way to ruin it somehow, but I'd be interested in FINDING OUT how, I guess I'd like to say. The attempt should be made.
Teens should at least be able to get diverted "regulated' illegal drugs, and be as safe as anyone else.
Anna
I would once have agreed completely, but with stupid reaching epidemic proportion, and pretty much EVERY thing being MUCH stronger than in the 70s and 80s, I have to say I don't think everything should be legal. I mean, as an example, I don't believe the average citizen should be able to legally posses refined, weapons grade uranium. That is the devestating lethal equivalency that today's compounds are approaching.
I think she’s speaking on drugs specifically with that statement which to make a long story short I’m in full agreement with. For the most part the illicit drugs are pretty safe, it’s the stuff that gets added along the way that does the damage. You know, clean, no surprises, responsible handling = reasonable safety. All things considered.
Unfortunately, just like with the “education” that is currently taking place with vaping, a good bit of what people believe is incorrect so with that legalization good, honest, accurate education would be a mandatory. There would have to be an “uneducate” and then re-educate that takes place so it would be bumpy for a little while but like anything once you get to the point where the people are in the “grew up with it around their whole lives” timeline it would appear differently.
Right now it’s like a dog that grew up it’s whole life on a leash vs the dog that was never on a leash and grew up “free”. If you take those two dogs and turn them loose in public they’re going to act completely different and one is going to be a risk to itself.
I get it’s a little more complicated than that but right now as it is the drug laws are entirely political and have absolutely zero relation to your safety, and that’s openly spoken in the pharmacy world, it’s really no mystery to anyone except the people who actually believe their brains are eggs in a frying pan.
Unfortunately, just like with the “education” that is currently taking place with vaping, a good bit of what people believe is incorrect so with that legalization good, honest, accurate education would be a mandatory. There would have to be an “uneducate” and then re-educate that takes place so it would be bumpy for a little while but like anything once you get to the point where the people are in the “grew up with it around their whole lives” timeline it would appear differently.
Right now it’s like a dog that grew up it’s whole life on a leash vs the dog that was never on a leash and grew up “free”. If you take those two dogs and turn them loose in public they’re going to act completely different and one is going to be a risk to itself.
I get it’s a little more complicated than that but right now as it is the drug laws are entirely political and have absolutely zero relation to your safety, and that’s openly spoken in the pharmacy world, it’s really no mystery to anyone except the people who actually believe their brains are eggs in a frying pan.
Someone mentioned removing the FDA and what it might do.
I chimed in about that. Including what the FDA's current budget could be used for and why.
It included legalizing illicit DRUGS yes, sorry to not be more specific. It never occurred to me that we should all be allowed to store pure anthrax in our basement freezers, or that someone would take the statement that way.
Now I know better.
Bedtime SO SOON! Argh!
Anna
I chimed in about that. Including what the FDA's current budget could be used for and why.
It included legalizing illicit DRUGS yes, sorry to not be more specific. It never occurred to me that we should all be allowed to store pure anthrax in our basement freezers, or that someone would take the statement that way.
Now I know better.
Bedtime SO SOON! Argh!
Anna
Anthrax, no, carfentynil, bromo-dragonfly, scopolomine... No thanks.Someone mentioned removing the FDA and what it might do.
I chimed in about that. Including what the FDA's current budget could be used for and why.
It included legalizing illicit DRUGS yes, sorry to not be more specific. It never occurred to me that we should all be allowed to store pure anthrax in our basement freezers, or that someone would take the statement that way.
Now I know better.
Bedtime SO SOON! Argh!
Anna
I had a field service manager once who quit smoking and became an anti-cigarette type. He admitted that sometimes a cigarette smelled wonderful when first lit and made him want one. We all had to go outside the office to smoke when you could still smoke inside in most businesses and stores. We were all tech reps who were in customers offices all day long anyway, so that didn't bother us.
I was still allowed to smoke in my company vehicle until the year I took early retirement at 59 after working there for 36 years. It was a good time to take the package! Shortly afterward, I discovered vaping and quit the stinkies.
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