Interesting post from an insurance company

[sonicdsl]

Saw this link posted on the Reddit ecig subreddit: Electronic Cigarettes | Cigna. I thought it was a fairly neutral stance for them to take, all but encouraging ecig use.

Almost refreshing...

 

[pianoguy]

Excellent!

 

[Zeroa4]

Makes me smile!

 

[Startle]

Refreshing Indeed!

Thanks for the link!

vape On!

 

[Bill Godshall]

I'm not impressed by their comments about the health impact of e-cigarettes.

Are e-cigarettes safe?

Since most of the harm from smoking is not from nicotine but from other things in tobacco, e-cigarettes may be safer than real cigarettes. But more research is needed before experts can say for sure.

The cartridges contain different levels of nicotine. So in theory, you could lower the nicotine levels over time until you no longer crave nicotine. This is why some people use them as aids to quitting smoking.

If you are thinking about using e-cigarettes to help you quit smoking, talk to your doctor first.

But that's probably because it was coathored by John Hughes, who has received millions of dollars from drug companies to claim that NRT is the most effective way to quit smoking, and who urged the FDA to ban e-cigarettes back in 2009.

 

[Bill Godshall]

If Cigna was truly interested in the health of its policy holders, it would inform them that e-cigarettes are far less hazardous than cigarettes and that millions of smokers have already quit by switching to e-cigarettes.

 

[rothenbj]

To me it's a pretty honest statement on E Cigs. However, more significant would be a statement from them that stated they'd test CO levels as opposed to cotinine in rating smokers.

 

[EddardinWinter]

I think it is perfectly fair. I feel the position that "Since most of the harm from smoking is not from nicotine but from other things in tobacco, e-cigarettes may be safer than real cigarettes. But more research is needed before experts can say for sure." is a reasonable position for this company to take.

Now many of us know by the way that our lungs feel, we function, etc. that this is an overly cautious endorsement. However, there were no irresponsible citing of some old discredited survey by regurgitating half truths and waiving red herring. This is an insurance company so they are gonna play this safe. Much better than the usual hogwash that the ANTZ dominated health industry regularly slops into the trough.

 

[sonicdsl]

I'm not impressed by their comments about the health impact of e-cigarettes.



But that's probably because it was coathored by John Hughes, who has received millions of dollars from drug companies to claim that NRT is the most effective way to quit smoking, and who urged the FDA to ban e-cigarettes back in 2009.

If Cigna was truly interested in the health of its policy holders, it would inform them that e-cigarettes are far less hazardous than cigarettes and that millions of smokers have already quit by switching to e-cigarettes.

I think it is perfectly fair. I feel the position that "Since most of the harm from smoking is not from nicotine but from other things in tobacco, e-cigarettes may be safer than real cigarettes. But more research is needed before experts can say for sure." is a reasonable position for this company to take.

Now many of us know by the way that our lungs feel, we function, etc. that this is an overly cautious endorsement. However, there were no irresponsible citing of some old discredited survey by regurgitating half truths and waiving red herring. This is an insurance company so they are gonna play this safe. Much better than the usual hogwash that the ANTZ dominated health industry regularly slops into the trough.

Exactly why I thought it was fairly neutral & refreshing. Bill I understand your point, but I just thought it was nice to see from an insurance company something that not so full of lies and nicotine hate. Yes, it could be better, for sure, but I was surprised at the tone from Cigna; just not what I expected from them.