This is a very good thing!! Many, if not most, companies consider you a "high-risk tobacco user" even if they just find nicotine in your system. For your employer to make that distinction - using nicotine but not smoking - is an awesome move in the right direction! My husband's company is increasing our premium just because the last test found nicotine - even though we have been smoke-free for over 3 years. THAT is what is nuts!
From our understanding, it is the EMPLOYER who chooses to LET the insurance company charge higher premiums to nicotine users, because they get discounts. So, it's the employer you must convince not to charge you more when you are really smoke-free. They should do more than just a nicotine test. (Obamacare is supporting this nicotine discrimination, by putting into the law that insurance companies can charge up to 150% of a non-user premium!)
Hopefully, once harm reduction becomes accepted, they will see how unfair a penalty for just detecting nicotine is unfair and counter-productive. (Meaning, if you get hit with a higher premium whether you smoke or not, why both quitting smoking?) The FDA is currently considering allowing nicotine gums, patches, etc for long-term "harm reduction" use. People should send in their comments. More info from CASAA: http://blog.casaa.org/2012/12/call-to-awareness-fda-public-hearing-on.html
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