QUIT OR PAY!
Big Brother is forcing their hand again. ...A friend of mine who works for the state of TN just received this email from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz:
The State, Local Education and Local Government insurance Committees have approved a plan which will put in place a $50 per-month tobacco surcharge and quitter's refund for all plan members who use tobacco. This surcharge will be implemented Jan. 1, 2010.
This effort is intended to encourage plan members to take appropriate steps toward giving up the use of tobacco products, while providing them with a variety of resources and cessation options.
The approval of this initiative comes just as a significant increase in the federal tobacco tax is engaged, and this might be the added incentive that convinces one of our insureds to quit.
The surcharge will apply to all active employees, retirees and covered spouses and will be collected through payroll deduction in the same manner as current insurance premiums. Anyone who wants to avoid paying the surcharge will need to quit using tobacco products by June 1, 2009.
Members who make the decision to give up tobacco after the program's implementation will be eligible for aQuitter's Refund. Of the more than one dozen states with active tobacco surcharge programs, Tennessee is the only state where a refund will be available to members who successfully kick the habit.
Members who still use tobacco have access to a variety of resources to safely and effectively quit using tobacco, which will be paid for using surcharge funds. All plan members will be given full access to a variety of cessation options.
Members now have immediate access to FREE tobacco cessation counseling though the Tennessee Department of Health Tobacco Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting Tennessee Tobacco Quitline (1-800-784-8669).
It goes without saying that the health and wellness of our employees is paramount and as the administrator for their health plan, we must take steps to ensure state workers and plan members have access to resources which help improve their long-term health status.
The attached overview provides a full explanation of the surcharge. Additional information is also available at Benefits Administration - Department of Finance & Administration.
This is the attachment:
A healthier membership in the State Group Insurance Program can help keep plan costs
affordable for all members.For more information about the tobacco surcharge, visit the Benefits Administration Web site at
I wonder if this is the future of all state workers in every state? Also, how will this effect the users of PV's? Will they still consider it "smoking"?
Big Brother is forcing their hand again. ...A friend of mine who works for the state of TN just received this email from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Dave Goetz:
The State, Local Education and Local Government insurance Committees have approved a plan which will put in place a $50 per-month tobacco surcharge and quitter's refund for all plan members who use tobacco. This surcharge will be implemented Jan. 1, 2010.
This effort is intended to encourage plan members to take appropriate steps toward giving up the use of tobacco products, while providing them with a variety of resources and cessation options.
The approval of this initiative comes just as a significant increase in the federal tobacco tax is engaged, and this might be the added incentive that convinces one of our insureds to quit.
The surcharge will apply to all active employees, retirees and covered spouses and will be collected through payroll deduction in the same manner as current insurance premiums. Anyone who wants to avoid paying the surcharge will need to quit using tobacco products by June 1, 2009.
Members who make the decision to give up tobacco after the program's implementation will be eligible for aQuitter's Refund. Of the more than one dozen states with active tobacco surcharge programs, Tennessee is the only state where a refund will be available to members who successfully kick the habit.
Members who still use tobacco have access to a variety of resources to safely and effectively quit using tobacco, which will be paid for using surcharge funds. All plan members will be given full access to a variety of cessation options.
Members now have immediate access to FREE tobacco cessation counseling though the Tennessee Department of Health Tobacco Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting Tennessee Tobacco Quitline (1-800-784-8669).
It goes without saying that the health and wellness of our employees is paramount and as the administrator for their health plan, we must take steps to ensure state workers and plan members have access to resources which help improve their long-term health status.
The attached overview provides a full explanation of the surcharge. Additional information is also available at Benefits Administration - Department of Finance & Administration.
This is the attachment:
State Group Insurance Program
Tobacco Surcharge Overview
Tobacco Surcharge Overview
At its March 31 meeting, the State, Local Education and Local Government Insurance
Committees approved a plan that calls for the implementation of a $50 per-month tobacco
surcharge for those members who use tobacco, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.
These policy changes are intended to encourage plan members to take appropriate steps toward giving up use of tobacco products, although it remains voluntary.
Members who incur the surcharge will have access to a variety of resources to safely and
effectively quit using tobacco, which will be paid for using surcharge funds. These resources
include:
Committees approved a plan that calls for the implementation of a $50 per-month tobacco
surcharge for those members who use tobacco, which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.
These policy changes are intended to encourage plan members to take appropriate steps toward giving up use of tobacco products, although it remains voluntary.
Members who incur the surcharge will have access to a variety of resources to safely and
effectively quit using tobacco, which will be paid for using surcharge funds. These resources
include:
Chantix and Zyban as covered by pharmacy benefit plan
Free offers or discounts for patches, lozenges and gum
Free tobacco cessation counseling though the Tennessee Department of Health Tobacco
The Insurance Committees will vote in April on coverage of specific medications and resources. The Tobacco Quitline is available immediately for those wishes to begin the quitting process now.
During the annual transfer period in the fall, plan members will be required to submit a signed
Tobacco Surcharge Form attesting to their use or lack thereof of tobacco products during the
previous three months. The surcharge will apply to all active employees, retirees and covered
spouses and will be collected through post-tax payroll deduction.
Those who indicate they or their covered spouse uses tobacco will pay the $50 per-month
surcharge. Every plan member will need to submit the completed form. Members who do not
return their completed Tobacco Surcharge Form will also pay the $50 per month surcharge, even if they or their spouses do not smoke.
The state will take a graduated approach to assessing fines from employees who provide false information on their Tobacco Surcharge Form. For those members who successfully quit using tobacco after the surcharge is implemented, a Quitters Refund will be available. Members who pay at least six months of the surcharge will be eligible to receive a $300 refund for remaining tobacco-free for six months and an additional $300 for remaining tobacco-free for an additional six months (one year total).
Of the more than one dozen state government plans with active tobacco surcharge programs,
Tennessee will be the only one to offer a refund for those members who become tobacco-free.
This initiative is the first of several steps to encourage positive habits among plan members as they relate to tobacco use, wellness habits and overall health. The Insurance Committees will be considering other programs for Plan Years 2011 and beyond.
The Insurance Committees will vote in April on coverage of specific medications and resources. The Tobacco Quitline is available immediately for those wishes to begin the quitting process now.
During the annual transfer period in the fall, plan members will be required to submit a signed
Tobacco Surcharge Form attesting to their use or lack thereof of tobacco products during the
previous three months. The surcharge will apply to all active employees, retirees and covered
spouses and will be collected through post-tax payroll deduction.
Those who indicate they or their covered spouse uses tobacco will pay the $50 per-month
surcharge. Every plan member will need to submit the completed form. Members who do not
return their completed Tobacco Surcharge Form will also pay the $50 per month surcharge, even if they or their spouses do not smoke.
The state will take a graduated approach to assessing fines from employees who provide false information on their Tobacco Surcharge Form. For those members who successfully quit using tobacco after the surcharge is implemented, a Quitters Refund will be available. Members who pay at least six months of the surcharge will be eligible to receive a $300 refund for remaining tobacco-free for six months and an additional $300 for remaining tobacco-free for an additional six months (one year total).
Of the more than one dozen state government plans with active tobacco surcharge programs,
Tennessee will be the only one to offer a refund for those members who become tobacco-free.
This initiative is the first of several steps to encourage positive habits among plan members as they relate to tobacco use, wellness habits and overall health. The Insurance Committees will be considering other programs for Plan Years 2011 and beyond.
A healthier membership in the State Group Insurance Program can help keep plan costs
affordable for all members.For more information about the tobacco surcharge, visit the Benefits Administration Web site at
I wonder if this is the future of all state workers in every state? Also, how will this effect the users of PV's? Will they still consider it "smoking"?
