Do Health Insurance companies consider us smokers?

[Basilor]

Just wondering.

On job applications and health insurance forms, when they ask if you smoke, I plan to answer NO because I don't smoke anymore thanks to e-cigs.

I assume though, if they tested me, they would find nicotine.

Anyone have to deal with this yet?

Mark

 

[vsummer1]

I would answer NO.

 

[SolemnPenguin]

Would you answer yes if you dipped or used snus. Or we're using the nicotine gum?

I would answer no. If the question however was "Do you use tobacco products?" I'm not sure what I'd put. Our nicotine is extracted from tobacco; but they could get it from other plants too (it would cost more though).

 

[recidivus]

I have no doubt ins. companies will do everything they can to ensure they don't have to pay out.

 

[yzer]

That's the beauty of private health insurance: they can come up with all kinds of exclusions like preexisting conditions or vaping nicotine to deny paying out certain benefits. Unless they get regulated, of course.

I just tell the truth. No, I don't smoke. Do I use tobacco products? Yes.

Do I have health insurance? Yes, Kaiser.

 

[VapDrak]

I would say No since you do not smoke.
If they test you just tell them you had an enormous and healthy tomato salad for breakfast... somewhere i read that tomatoes contain nicotine...

 

[drummerskey]

Health Insurance companies may not care upfront but life insurance companies can and likely will ask you to take a nicotine test. It stays in your system for some time. If you were to fail this way, you likely wouldnt win the argument that you dont smoke - regardless of whether you smoke or not.

 

[Varrius]

It all depends if you want you and/or your family to get paid if you have a claim in which they can say it is related. I would ask my agent the question, and go on his answer. If he says you don't have to claim smoker and you'll get full benefits, make him put it in writing and sign it.

I actually asked my agent this question back when I did smoke, because life insurance is so much more expensive for smokers, and he said that I could answer no and pay the lower premiums (I'd have to not smoke for a while to pass the test), but if I die of lung cancer my family would get nada.

As for a job application I would just say no, because afterall you do not smoke.

 

[grandmato5]

Most health insurance companies will consider us smokers as long as we are using nicotine in any form. Test performed to check doesn't care what the source of the nicotine is, only if it shows up in sufficient quantity or not to quallify us as tobacco users or not.

 

[Figgy]

I actually asked my agent this question back when I did smoke, because life insurance is so much more expensive for smokers, and he said that I could answer no and pay the lower premiums (I'd have to not smoke for a while to pass the test), but if I die of lung cancer my family would get nada.

I lost my dad to lung cancer and he hadn't smoked in 30 years. If I had to guess, I think it was more likely the chemicals he worked around. There is no way for them to know what caused your cancer. Yes, there's a massive link between smoking and cancer, but 20% of people that get lung cancer are non-smokers. Getting cancer wouldn't prove you lied about smoking.

 

[s14sher]

My doctor doesn't consider me a smoker, so I'd say no.

 

[bpthomas85]

I always answer no. i even showed my doctor my ego once when he asked if i smoked and he thought it was pretty cool.

 

[dane1521]

Personally I'd like to say i would answer no but make sure to check if they test for nicotine. Or as your HR dept. it's better to find out what they consider it then to answer wrong only to be tested and then be out of insurance or even your job.

 

[wkbryson]

On my last 2 medical check ups for my company, I told the doctor I have been vaping for 2 years and they marked me as a non smoker.

 

[Varrius]

I lost my dad to lung cancer and he hadn't smoked in 30 years. If I had to guess, I think it was more likely the chemicals he worked around. There is no way for them to know what caused your cancer. Yes, there's a massive link between smoking and cancer, but 20% of people that get lung cancer are non-smokers. Getting cancer wouldn't prove you lied about smoking.

It was more of an extreme example than anything. The point was, if they can link it in some way to whatever you were doing and said "no" to, they will so they can refuse the claim. Unfortunately, that would leave the family in a lawsuit with them over it, and in the meantime getting no benefits from them. That's all I was really trying to say.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

My Dr. changed my records to "former smoker" but only after being analog free for 6 months. At my 1 year vaping/ analog free anniversary he will again change the records to "non smoker".

 

[It Must Feed]

I just called Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and they couldn't find a true definition of a smoker. The woman I spoke with said that she feels that it only pertains to people that are smoking analogs.

 

[martsumoto]

Would you answer yes if you dipped or used snus. Or we're using the nicotine gum?

I would answer no. If the question however was "Do you use Tobacco products?" I'm not sure what I'd put. Our nicotine is extracted from Tobacco; but they could get it from other plants too (it would cost more though).

Wrong, Nicotine is not extracted from tobacco it is a natural alkaline you can even find in tomatoes!
back to the topic I would Answer NO!

 

[DC2]

Wrong, Nicotine is not extracted from tobacco it is a natural alkaline you can even find in tomatoes!

All of the nicotine we use in electronic cigarettes is extracted from tobacco, without exception.

 

[DC2]

Some day an insurance company is going to deny a claim by an electronic cigarette user because they tested positive for nicotine.
And when that happens, I hope that person sues the living crap out of that insurance company.