fight big money with big money

[cracker75]

Knowing that we're all too poor to fight this fight, I figured I would contact organizations with the resources and incentive (profit) to support our side(assuming we are correct in our stance).

I have been sending this email out via the "contact" link to various insurance providers:
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To whom it may concern,

As an un-insured, recent-ex-smoker, I am writing to you in support of an un-approved nicotine reduction therapy, the “e-cigarette” or personal vaporizer (PV).

I became interested in this device for both cost and health reasons, but had little expectation of any level of success. I am 35 years old and have smoked tobacco cigarettes since I was 16, over half of my life. I have tried patches, prescriptions, and cold-turkey, to no effect. I had no intention of quitting with the e-cig, simply cutting back, and saving money. Lo and behold the transition was easy, and I now prefer my vaporizer to a real cigarette.

Many states and counties are seeking to restrict or outright ban these devices, and what little research has been done at the federal level, if scrutinized, clearly demonstrates the potential health benefits PV’s offer as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes.

Many PV users suspect that the FDA is dragging it’s feet intentionally, and although the PV community is trying to raise funds to do it’s own research, we do not collectively have the resources make this a reality in a timely fashion.

After some thought I realized that the insurance community not only has the resources to objectively analyze these products, but should they be proven as a substantially safer alternative, the opportunity to reap the potential financial benefits presented by better health outcomes.

Furthermore, the insurance industry has the political assets in place to pressure our fickle leadership into doing the right thing for it’s citizenry.

The anti-PV movement is heavily funded by big-tobacco and big-pharma, yet by preventing potential e-cigarette users access to this life-saving technology, they instead will continually erode your bottom line.

Ultimately, all I am asking is that you do your own research, because in all likelihood, you stand to profit greatly from it.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Sincerely,
***** *******

 

[throatkick]

Hi. This is a truly nice angle but .....hhhmmmmmm.

The fact that, as a community, we are poor should make a difference? Despite the fact that it is true, think about what this implies.

The insurance companies can charge smokers extra money. So, they charge vapers the same but have a potentially healthier person paying higher premiums. Well....there goes that whole argument. If we combine it with the money issue, we see that for the time being, money is the true ruler.

Long story short, you may get a card congratulating you on being healthier but to please be certain to pay your new higher premium.

 

[cracker75]

It's still an angle worth considering. They have the same motive (money) as our enemies, to be our friends.

 

[rothenbj]

cracker75, great effort! It shows some thought and there is some logic for them to consider. From a health insurance standpoint, I'd agree with throatkick. They do still charge higher premiums for nicotine testing, not CO2 testing which would identify smokers and anyone who is at risk due to exposure to high CO2 creating products (wood burning for example).

However, when you're looking at life insurance, there is a great advantage in keeping people living longer. The premiums keep coming in longer and at higher rates when looking at term insurance. That might get their attention. There's also savings in the industry in avoiding paying for scripts of NRT products that still have questionable long term effects and perhaps liability insurance claims. These are all considerations that could catch their interest.

 

[cracker75]

cracker75, great effort! It shows some thought and there is some logic for them to consider. From a health insurance standpoint....

I would just like to convince them to do the research. It's in their best interest. It could even turn out that we are wrong about the presumed health benefits, but at least we would know.

 

[tybin]

or....we get someone famous who vapes to file a class action suit...or we get all the vaping forums to band together and each member contributes what he/she can and we file a suit....or we find a few retired lawyers in the forums. I would think we would get faster results this way. just my

 

[FreakyStylie]

Making noise everyplace possible is a good idea in my opinion! Personally, I'd like to see a reporter do a nice story exposing the corruption, but I like this too. I've done work in insurance though, and the rates are calculated by risk. If the risk goes down, the rates go down, but their profit margin stays the same. They only promote safer activities if the government tells them, and they offer lower rates to get more customers. It could have potential for getting more people to buy their insurance, but they would have to foot the bill for the research. Nobody wants to pay for the research though.