My boss basically TOLD ME I can smoke it at my cubicle

[beatlebandaide]

RE: insurance companies
I would think that if you took a physical for life insurance coverage and they tested for nicotine it would show up in your blood test?

More than likely since that's why we all vape... but I've never taken a physical for life insurance...

 

[deeanne59]

My boss gave me permission to vape inside the plant, and told me that "anything that was good for me- he was all for". Two days, later, the FDA press conference happened....and my boss had the HR guy call me at home, and "politely" asked me from now on to only use it in the smoking area...and on breaks and lunch only.

Just this past Thursday, we had a meeting about the company's new "Wellness" program. One of the requirements for lower premiums is to quit tobacco use. I told the HR manager that I don't use tobacco, and that I don't smoke. He told me that they were going to have to quantify the "no tobacco use"....possibly by blood test or urine test for nicotine. I told him that wasn't fair, because myself and the other vapors at the plant would be penalized as a smoker...even though we don't use tobacco. He said they would "be fair"...then immediately asked me if I could HURRY UP AND QUIT THE VAPORIZER!!!!!

 

[beatlebandaide]

My boss gave me permission to vape inside the plant, and told me that "anything that was good for me- he was all for". Two days, later, the FDA press conference happened....and my boss had the HR guy call me at home, and "politely" asked me from now on to only use it in the smoking area...and on breaks and lunch only.

Just this past Thursday, we had a meeting about the company's new "Wellness" program. One of the requirements for lower premiums is to quit tobacco use. I told the HR manager that I don't use tobacco, and that I don't smoke. He told me that they were going to have to quantify the "no tobacco use"....possibly by blood test or urine test for nicotine. I told him that wasn't fair, because myself and the other vapors at the plant would be penalized as a smoker...even though we don't use tobacco. He said they would "be fair"...then immediately asked me if I could HURRY UP AND QUIT THE VAPORIZER!!!!!

Honestly this is CRAP. Are people going to be penalized for using nicotine gum or the patch or the Nicotrol Inhaler? I'm sorry this happened to you.

 

[YKruss]

More than likely since that's why we all vape... but I've never taken a physical for life insurance...

Take a look at this thread - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/nicotine/24062-home-test-nicotine-blood-levels.html

What i understand is that blood test results for "Kate51" would give you a permission to check the box for "No nicotine user". "happily" is a border line for smoker but than he/she is using 3 ml of 36 mg per day. And again metabolism is different for different people.

 

[DaBrat]

Yes insurance companies use blood and urine tests. Until the FDA fiasco, I would have thought you could reasonably check no and if questioned explain the difference. However after the FDA BS, I think insurance companies may well treat vapers like smokers.

That being said, they may also make their tests more borderline to pick up Vapers, more for THEIR bottom line even IF our usage of PVs actually does cut down our health risks. All about the benjys.

 

[sherid]

You know; that's a whole new interesting conversation in and of itself. How will insurance companies look at vaping? Will it count as smoking? It obviously doesn't to you and I, but will the continued use of nicotine help rationalize a decision on their part to consider it "smoking?"

I can only imagine that insurance companies as a whole will try to lump it in as the same, if only because they get to "rightfully" charge higher premiums for "smokers."

Anyways, sorry for going off-topic.

Right now one of our managers upstairs looks like he's running a methlab, he's got so many bottles of liquid. I've started to call him "31 Flavors."

Since insurance companies test for nicotine rather than smoke, then they will charge the same higher premium for vapers as they do for smokers.

 

[sherid]

For anyone considering not smoking or not using nicotine for a few days before a nicotine test, please don't do that. Your claim for any future illness could be denied if you return to vaping/smoking after the test. Since they currently blame every disease known to mankind on smoking, I cannot imagine an illness that they would not attribute to nicotine use and deny your claim.

 

[hxj]

Take a look at this thread - (deleted because I can't post URLs)

What i understand is that blood test results for "Kate51" would give you a permission to check the box for "No nicotine user". "happily" is a border line for smoker but than he/she is using 3 ml of 36 mg per day. And again metabolism is different for different people.

That's actually a really interesting point-- and also, I've definitely seen lots of vapers on here mentioning that they've been moving to lower-nic juices over time, too. I wonder how many smokers successfully transition all the way down to zero-nic juice but keep vaping? I know that for me it's entirely about the oral fixation/"smoke"/flavor/ritual, and not at all about the nicotine.

People for whom the addiction isn't so tied to the nicotine may well be able to get their levels low enough that no nic-screening test will flag them. (Totally guessing, here, but based on the results you linked to, I wonder if any test sensitive enough to flag vapers who only use low-nic juice might even wind up flagging people who are exposed to second-hand smoke.)

 

[Linthorn]

You know; that's a whole new interesting conversation in and of itself. How will insurance companies look at vaping? Will it count as smoking? It obviously doesn't to you and I, but will the continued use of nicotine help rationalize a decision on their part to consider it "smoking?"

I can only imagine that insurance companies as a whole will try to lump it in as the same, if only because they get to "rightfully" charge higher premiums for "smokers."

Not so very crazy. I looked into this for a similar case. I have a friend who quit smoking several years ago and started the gum. He still uses the gum but hasn't had a cig in over 2 years. If he tries to get insurance they may test for nicotine. He will test positive. According to the insurance companies, he is considered a smoker.

Now, he is no more at risk for smoking related conditions than anyone else off cigs for 2 years, but they can't verify it. It's all about the testing. Thus, if you vape nicotine you are a smoker for the insurance companies.

 

[DisMan]

You know; that's a whole new interesting conversation in and of itself. How will insurance companies look at vaping? Will it count as smoking? It obviously doesn't to you and I, but will the continued use of nicotine help rationalize a decision on their part to consider it "smoking?"

That is why insurance companies ask if you use any nicotine products. They will look at this negatively. Any excuse to not provide you the coverage you need at a reasonable is what they are looking for.

That is why people in this country see our healthcare as broken. People think they have a choice with insurance companies. But what choice do you really have? Have you read the limits on your health coverage? Many of them are $250k PER LIFETIME. That's one heart surgery. Then you're done. And it's all due to the hyperinflated costs of healthcare...you know, the "fastest growing industry"?