Insurance & employment

[byfert]

OK I have a question. What do you guys/gals put on insurance applications? Smoker or Non-smoker?
I have just applied for a job and they are wanting to test me for nicotine because they are a tobacco free establishment. What do I do? This is a good opportunity. I explained to them that I vape not smoke and they said if I am positive than I use tobacco. When I asked what if I was on the patch or chewed the gum and they responded "If you test positive than you use tobacco". Is there anything that can be done about this? I appreciate any responses.

 

[evilferret]

Ask them what type of test it is.

Typical tests, check for nicotine so e-cig usage will probably ding you as a smoker.

There's a few older threads about this.

Also might want to look into alternative providers. A lot of insurance providers place NRT users into the Tobacco category (or at least around me).

 

[JAY73]

sorry to say they sound kinda stupid how can they not give you a job just because you have nic in your system if it was me i would walk away if they are unwilling to accept the fact that smoking is not the only way to get nic then whats going to happen later on down the road... just saying...

 

[evilferret]

sorry to say they sound kinda stupid how can they not give you a job just because you have nic in your system if it was me i would walk away if they are unwilling to accept the fact that smoking is not the only way to get nic then whats going to happen later on down the road... just saying...

Think the problem is more with the insurance companies than the people hiring.

 

[TheCommuter]

You also need to consider what might happen in the future. Sure, you may slip past this pre-employment screening, but would they fire you if they see you vaping during a lunch break? I wouldn't get too reliant on an employer like this.


Either way, I wish you the best of luck on the job hunt!!


Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[chewy]

If it is a nic test if you can go a week without vaping you should pass that, if seen using the ecig at that point i would think it would be up to a doctor if they would drop you or not. Once the orig test is passed just stealth vape so no one notices. I have heard of several people whose doctors have labeled them a non smoker after switching to vapeing so I don't think after the initial test you would have problems.

 

[greentea86]

You have to ask yourself which is more important, the job or the vape? Once you answer that you will have all your answers. You could try and elude your employers but what if you get caught? They have rules for reasons and if you dont want to conform to the rules then find another job that allows you to have nicotine. I know it sucks but you wanna join that company so they make the rules. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[dgm76513]

That question is pretty straight forward. Smoking or non? Well, do you smoke?

Didn't think so

 

[teamscon]

We will see more of this the way were goin

 

[mwa102464]

Go to 0mg juice until you take the test, then switch once you pass it

 

[iamtumus]

state you use nicotine replacement therapy

 

[OnnaB]

There have been a few threads here about this. Apparently, to the employer's insurance company, if they find nicotine in your test...you are considered a smoker. Supposedly this is because they have no way of proving how nicotine got there...so...you smoke. As with any insurance, they have a right (for now) to decide who they will cover...and under what set of parameters. I personally think it goes too far, but...they don't much care what we think. I understand jobs are hard to come by...you may have to take the test.
Has anyone here ever had to take a nic test since they gave up cigs??? I am curious to know if vaping shows up??

 

[SteveDTF]

With jobs hard to come by in many sectors these days, being a vaping martyr won't pay your bills. If you can bare it, go 0mg from here on out. I would/could not do it, but perhaps you can.

 

[OnnaB]

Byfert...look at this article: Nicotine / Cotinine: The Test
It gives a name of a test that can be done for NRT instead of smoking. Interesting read, actually....

 

[Mac]

Try my tutorial and don't let those fascist douche-bags dictate your body chemistry!

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/outside/108748-how-beat-nicotine-urinalysis-screening.html

 

[Wishdog]

I gotta be the dissenting voice here, but I don't like what I'm gonna say either.

The insurance companies don't know what your habits are. And we all know there are tons of people in the world with no moral base and think that everything that benefits them is good as long as they don't get caught and "no one gets hurt." They don't know you. I can totally understand their position.

Now...how long does it take to get the nic out of your system is the big question.

There appear to be no loopholes in this system.

 

[Suicidebob]

I had a similar issue, my insurance contacted me thinking I smoke stinkys.. After a few minutes of explaining to 3 different people on the phone they finally figured out what I had- they claimed it as a Nicotine inhaler. They didn't have any issues and for some reason.. they claim me as a none smoker.. I'm in the works right now to make sure they understand I still use nicotine and that I use an electronic cig.

I like being straight forward.. especially when it comes to insurance.

 

[RsK0807]

Just claim as a non-smoker, its what i did. They're not gonna TEST you to see if you smoke... The only thing that would become suspicious to the insurance company is if you'd try to get a prescription for chantix...

 

[nanovapr]

This is a tough spot. If you fake it or deny it to get hired, then if you ever have a claim, you may not have time to detox. It would be bad enough to be denied coverage, worse yet to also get fired.

You could be able to argue the point that nicotine does not equal smoking (good for those that have!), but you might volunteer for CO tests? They are a simple 'breathalizer-looking' test, that measures parts per million of carbon monoxide. It takes ten seconds, and is completely non-invasive (you blow into a cardboard tube). If you are a smoker, you can't fake that. If you vape, you could blow zero or one (normal for a non-smoker is 0-6 I think).

I smoked hard for three decades, I haven't smoked for a year, and recently went through a smoking cessation class that my work provided. I consistently blew a one across six weeks of classes, a lady sitting next to me blew 47.

Even though the amounts of nicotine in vegetables are microscopic compared to a cigarette, claiming I LOVE TOMATOES may not be enough to trigger a nic test. A CO test exclusively identifies smokers. Ask for one if you can.

 

[evilferret]

Might want to be safe and just say you're on NRT's unless you're vaping 0 nic.

You might still be labelled a smoker depending on the insurer.

Also if you claim to be on NRT's you might be able to convince your boss to let you vape at work.

Anybody know how/if insurers test if you'er a smoker after you pass away?