I need your help

[**Lori**]

Hi. I want to pick all of your brains. I have been an ecig user for over 2 years now. I am a former employee of Madvapes and always a customer. Hi Mark, Scott, Paul, Jessalyn (sp), and everyone.
Okay, so I have my open enrollment meeting Friday at work for my health insurance. They have said that the rates will be separate for tobacco users and non users. I do not use nic and they are still classifying me as a tobacco user. A coworker who I got using an ecig a year ago, had her meeting today and they told her they have to charge her the $50 more per month as a tobacco user. She said that it isn't a cigarette and doesn't have all of the chemicals in it, nor is it tobacco. The lady told her that the "filter thingys on top" have bad things in them. I am going to ask this lady where she is getting her information from.
What should I say about ecigs to HR and the insurance company rep. that will help my cause? Thanks in advance.

Lori

 

[cags]

since you don't use nicotine, I think I would demand a nicotine test!

 

[steved5600]

Sounds like they have no idea what they are talking about or making up stuff to put vaping in the tobacco box. I'd be ticked. Demand a test or something. Don't know what filter thingi she is talking about.

 

[**Lori**]

Maybe I will ask them for a nicotine test. As for the filter thingy, I assume she was talking about a cartomizer. Does anyone know what they are made from? I had always learned it was a filler material similar to a fish tank filter material. The only other thing in one is the heating filament, right?

 

[gimmieshelter31]

Since you do not vape nicotine, that would be discrimination to charge you as a tobacco user. The same reasoning says anyone who eats fast food at any time or any food with preservatives or drinks anything other than filtered water should pay more too since they all have "bad" things in them. If this were to happen to you, I would ask what legal basis they have to do so.
Sounds like the work of an ANTZ.

 

[bacc.vap]

Maybe I will ask them for a nicotine test. As for the filter thingy, I assume she was talking about a cartomizer. Does anyone know what they are made from? I had always learned it was a filler material similar to a fish tank filter material. The only other thing in one is the heating filament, right?

I'm sure in her ignorant way she was refering to the e-liquid, after all it's full of deadly trace amounts of anti-freeze don't cha know.

 

[Baditude]

I work in a hospital. "Tobacco use is prohibited" signs are up at every entrance. Employees are prohibited from smoking on the campus or risk termination.

I had stopped smoking on the job over a year ago when the policy went into effect, but my daily smoking stayed the same as before, just not at work. I began stealth vaping when alone at my locker during breaks since I started vaping several months ago. I am not smoking, I'm vaping. I am not using tobacco, it's not smoke. It is water vapor. It does have nicotine, but so does nicotine patches and gum, and those are allowed for use.

Out of curiosity, I asked a head nurse if patients would be allowed to vape in their holding bay prior to entering surgery (where I work). I made sure to mention the fact that since patches and gum have nicotine and are allowed, so should e-cigarettes. She said she didn't know and would try to find out.

She got back with me a few days later. She said she had discussed my question with her superior(s) and it was decided that since e-cigarettes were so new and that there were no recent studies on their safety or effectiveness to patients or others, based on that lack of information e-cigarettes would not be allowed.

The response does not surprise me, considering the conservative approach my institution tends to follow with such matters. This knowledge has not caused me to change my habit of stealth vaping in private in the locker room. If I somehow get caught and the hosptial decides to take action, I will take legal recourse to fight it. When I sign future medical forms asking me if I smoke or use tobacco, I will answer honestly and say NO, I use neither.

The are reports that a North Carolina hospital is actually handing out disposable e-cigs to patients and visitors who feel the need to smoke on their campus. Think about it, they are cheaper than nicotine gum and patches. And they know cigarette smokers are more likely to sneak smokes somewhere on the campus and litter the place with butts than follow any "no smoking" rules when under the stress of family members fighting for their lives at the hospital. Kudos to that hospital for their progressive attitude.

 

[bobbybee1968]

yeh ask for a nico test

 

[tnt56]

I've argued that point with my employer several times. My lung doctor says it's ok. The place where I work at only looked at the one BAD report of juice. I admited then that if that's the way it was then I wasn't allowed to use my inhaler or nebulize at work because of the vapor it produced. And I will write up anyone that breathes in cold air causing a vapor to produce from their warm breath. Finally I lost the battle. I understand. But it was suggested by an fellow brother in arms that I might be able to get a statement from my doctor saying it was ok. Time will tell.

 

[Davenkay]

Who are you referring to as "they"? If it is a supervisor at the Company, "they" are infringing on your right of privacy. This is a decision of the insurance underwriter. If you check the box that says you are not a tobacco user, that information is what the underwriter uses to rate the policy. You are not a tobacco user and if the underwriter says you are you need to file a grievance with you States Insurance Commissioner.

Your Company HR needs to be told to stay out of your personal health information. That is an infraction of the HIPPA act.

I used to have an unwaivering loyalty to my Company, but as time passes I am finding that a Company will have no loyalty to you if push comes to shove. Go ahead and say your piece and if necessary file a complaint with your State Labor board if you feel any retaliation. There is protection from that.

 

[minimalsaint]

since you don't use nicotine, I think I would demand a nicotine test!

This. Otherwise, they have no way of knowing your habits. I would also add that- when the time comes to answer questions- you don't smoke or vape. If there is nothing to base their decision on, they have no recourse. Insurance companies are scum and your right to privacy should come first. I'm a proud vaper, but I also know when to keep my mouth shut.
Maybe throw a subliminal dig in about how you heard your coworker was being charged as a smoker for using an ecig and how they actually make their misinformed determination.

 

[Butters78]

It's that time of year at my work as well. One thing though that scares me a bit is the health assessment. It asks if I was a former smoker. I quit back in 2010 but still use nicotine of course. Just paranoid if I'm tested should I lie and say the gum or the patch?

 

[Butters78]

They are threatening to charge 15 more a week for smokers.. Oye and they won't accept e cigs because they aren't fda approved.

 

[Alamedean]

Interesting topic. I was hoping that once a reached a full year without analogs I could contact my health insurance company to have my monthly premiums lowered.
Will definitely be following this thread.

 

[Absintheur]

don't know if the will help...

Electronic Cigarettes A Safer Option For Smokers - Lee's Summit Tribune - Lee's Summit News

 

[Davenkay]

Insurance Companies have an elimination of 2 years. Once you get past that point, they can't do squat.

 

[**Lori**]

I went to 3 people in HR and sat with the insurance company and won. I am paying the "wellness rate" for health insurance. Their requirement was to have a wellness physical in 2012 and be tobacco free by Sept. 1. I said I had my physical, which I told them, was told I was healthier than of 2 years past when I was a smoker. I added that I was NOT a tobacco user. I don't know if they just wanted to get past this without friction, but they agreed.

 

[cags]

I went to 3 people in HR and sat with the insurance company and won. I am paying the "wellness rate" for health insurance. Their requirement was to have a wellness physical in 2012 and be tobacco free by Sept. 1. I said I had my physical, which I told them, was told I was healthier than of 2 years past when I was a smoker. I added that I was NOT a tobacco user. I don't know if they just wanted to get past this without friction, but they agreed.

well that is just wonderful! are they going to do a nic test? congrats to you

 

[Robino1]

I went to 3 people in HR and sat with the insurance company and won. I am paying the "wellness rate" for health insurance. Their requirement was to have a wellness physical in 2012 and be tobacco free by Sept. 1. I said I had my physical, which I told them, was told I was healthier than of 2 years past when I was a smoker. I added that I was NOT a tobacco user. I don't know if they just wanted to get past this without friction, but they agreed.

Congrats!!

 

[**Lori**]

No nic test. I told them they could if they wanted to. My coworker that vapes also got the wellness rate. One small step for man, one giant leap for Vapekind

well that is just wonderful! are they going to do a nic test? congrats to you