I know this thread has been done, but just a bit of more specific information that I can pass along.
I work for the state of GA and we have United Healthcare. According to their terms and agreements they look for tobacco users. If insurance companies are testing for nicotine ONLY, you should get your receipt for your vaping instrument. My friend works at an insurance company (won't name) and that's how they test for nicotine. They don't ask about tobacco products, but nicotine products. If you have a receipt of purchase of nicotine replacement therapy (hey that's what they call it) you can still keep insurance or like myself get rid of surcharge for the analogs.
WARNING! If you vape and do analogs, I would be truthful about the cigarettes.
More and more insurance companies, including UHC are hiring more fraud teams to investigate companies. We had a brief by one of the insurance agents and they informed us that if you are caught or have smoker on health information after you have either attested or went to AHA (American Heart Association) smoking cessation classes and was cleared, they can drop you on the first offense and not offer you coverage for a year. After that, they can legally drop you from health or life coverages offered to you by your employer. Smoker or non-smoker on health information is covered under the PHI (protected health information) under HIPAA, but your insurance company has authority to check that information if you are covered under their insurance program.
Just a bit of information that I have obtained from reliable sources and passing it on. Hope this is in time to help someone.
I work for the state of GA and we have United Healthcare. According to their terms and agreements they look for tobacco users. If insurance companies are testing for nicotine ONLY, you should get your receipt for your vaping instrument. My friend works at an insurance company (won't name) and that's how they test for nicotine. They don't ask about tobacco products, but nicotine products. If you have a receipt of purchase of nicotine replacement therapy (hey that's what they call it) you can still keep insurance or like myself get rid of surcharge for the analogs.
WARNING! If you vape and do analogs, I would be truthful about the cigarettes.
More and more insurance companies, including UHC are hiring more fraud teams to investigate companies. We had a brief by one of the insurance agents and they informed us that if you are caught or have smoker on health information after you have either attested or went to AHA (American Heart Association) smoking cessation classes and was cleared, they can drop you on the first offense and not offer you coverage for a year. After that, they can legally drop you from health or life coverages offered to you by your employer. Smoker or non-smoker on health information is covered under the PHI (protected health information) under HIPAA, but your insurance company has authority to check that information if you are covered under their insurance program.
Just a bit of information that I have obtained from reliable sources and passing it on. Hope this is in time to help someone.
