E Cig users may be penalized through health insurance....

[jjordan]

www. examiner .com/article/e-cigarettes-users-may-pay-a-penalty-for-health-insurance
E-cigarettes users may pay a penalty for health insurance - Columbus healthy living | Examiner .com

Found this Link via Mt. Baker's Twitter page on Twitter what do you think? Do you think it is fair that we will be penalized for stopping smoking and taking up a healthier alternative to smoking through ObamaCare? I certainly do not feel that it is fair that we be punished due to taking up a healthier alternative to smoking. The article is full of conflicting information if you read all the links provided in the main article.

 

[B2L]

I have a friend in the insurance business. I was looking for a new policy and talked to him about how my vaping would effect the premium.

He did some research and came back with a quote from Prudential, they consider e cigs to be in a lesser risk category, along with occasional cigar use, and although I didn't get their best rates they were far better than a smokers premium.

 

[minimalsaint]

Our private policy had annual "wellness checks" with complete bloodwork and one test was for nicotine. It didn't matter what KIND of nicotine (gum, patch, vaping) they found- you were considered a smoker and paid a higher premium.
However, as of this year there are no wellness checks and all enrolled in the policy pay the same premium regardless of health.

 

[Iffy]

I foresee continued vaping insurance penalties and future O'Care subsidies/grants to BT and BP once da lil' guys are outta da way...

 

[jjordan]

minimalsaint and B2L I just wanted to share what I had found on twitter, I know that most people pay a higher premium based on nicotine found in the blood stream regardless minimalsaint I just thought those people who have to pay for their own insurance like I do would want to know about this possible change regarding vaping...it seems that no matter how we try to make ourselves more healthy they try to do all they can to stick it to us regardless! That is all!

 

[crxess]

minimalsaint and B2L I just wanted to share what I had found on twitter, I know that most people pay a higher premium based on nicotine found in the blood stream regardless minimalsaint I just thought those people who have to pay for their own insurance like I do would want to know about this possible change regarding vaping...it seems that no matter how we try to make ourselves more healthy they try to do all they can to stick it to us regardless! That is all!

It is called Profitability.

They have shareholders to answer to and will do whatever they Legally can to get the most they can from each person Insured.

 

[DreamWithin]

Moved to Media/General News

 

[wv2win]

www. examiner .com/article/e-cigarettes-users-may-pay-a-penalty-for-health-insurance
E-cigarettes users may pay a penalty for health insurance - Columbus healthy living | Examiner .com

Found this Link via Mt. Baker's Twitter page on Twitter what do you think? Do you think it is fair that we will be penalized for stopping smoking and taking up a healthier alternative to smoking through ObamaCare? I certainly do not feel that it is fair that we be punished due to taking up a healthier alternative to smoking. The article is full of conflicting information if you read all the links provided in the main article.

Considering that vaping as we know it, will all but be dead in two years, based on the FDA Deeming Regulations, does it really matter?

 

[minimalsaint]

Actually, my premium went down to a non-smoker's rate. Now it's flat across the board. If I remember correctly, it has something to do with our preexisting clause. Private insurance can no longer deny benefits or increase premiums based on a preexisting condition. Maybe it's different with yomommacare- I can't say- but our private policy worked out in our favor.
Ask lots of questions about your benefits and what changes can be made. Some companies consider you a non-smoker as long as you are "enrolled" in a smoking cessation program.

 

[bosun]

May?
Perhaps you joke?
Its like you may get wet if you stand outside in a rain storm (G).
I would say it is guaranteed!

 

[aikanae1]

They'd have to prove it.

I seem to recall there's been a few on ECF who had to take tests for employment / insurance. One vaped for a solid 2 months just for the test and their blood tested at "lives with a smoker" level = non smoker. I've read that from others also. This is the type of stuff I wish someone would do a study on.

 

[AndriaD]

I also went looking for info on how nicotine is detected via blood test. Nicotine itself changes into constituent metabolites soon after any form of ingestion; the primary metabolite, probably the one that is chiefly looked for, is cotinine, and I think it said that the halflife for it is 24 hrs. So if you know ahead of time that you will have your blood tested, you could vape zero-nic for 24-48 hrs beforehand. It might not be terribly comfortable for someone accustomed to a regular nicotine regime, but it would sure be easier than without vaping, and could save you a lot of money.

Andria

 

[Nate760]

1. Wouldn't it make a great deal more sense to test for carbon monoxide and categorize people as accordingly, since that test (unlike a nicotine test) would actually differentiate smokers from non-smokers?

2. Since everyone consumes nicotine every day and there's no record of anyone ever testing negative for it, where exactly do they establish the threshold between "incidental nicotine exposure" and "user of nicotine products?"

 

[AndriaD]

1. Wouldn't it make a great deal more sense to test for carbon monoxide and categorize people as accordingly, since that test (unlike a nicotine test) would actually differentiate smokers from non-smokers?

2. Since everyone consumes nicotine every day and there's no record of anyone ever testing negative for it, where exactly do they establish the threshold between "incidental nicotine exposure" and "user of nicotine products?"

Since when does "sense" have anything to do with any of this oppression? Did it make "sense" for my doctor to be unable to prescribe the Nicotrol inhaler to me, because I'm asthmatic? I mean, wouldn't "sense" indicate that an asthmatic needs to quit smoking ASAP, by any means necessary??? My doctor even admitted that the Nicotrol inhaler would most likely be far less damaging to my lungs than cigarettes.... but rules are rules! And mostly have nothing whatever to do with sense!

Andria

 

[skoony]

states that reserve the right to consider vaping the same as smoking for insurance purposes.
some states reserve the right and don't.
some states leave it up to the insurance companies.
some companies do,some don't.
regards
mike

 

[aikanae1]

I think I've read that the way nicotine is asorbed through mucas membranes (mouth and nose) don't elevate blood plasma levels the same way that lung hits do. I know there's several articles discussing different asorbtion rates for inhalation. I believe nicotine works in the brain.