You've got to be kidding.....Tobacco Affidavit

[rothenbj]

I don't know about doing that and believe me it's sooo tempting to just check the box that says nope I do not smoke and with a clean conscious because I really don't. I just applied for life insurance thru my daughter and tried it as a non smoker. I had the para med exam just urine collection and questions answered that I do not smoke and have not for two years. That is true although for a little while I still cheated on the occasional stinky. Never was asked if I vaped or usage of an ecig but asked about the snus or other NRTs and the reply was a truthful no. It came back I was a smoker. I asked my daughter to dig into it as I see a pulmonary doctor so did they reject me due to the damage I have done to my lungs or was it dirty urine. I was told it was the urine. I vape 18mg so I would really like to try it again to see how sensitive these test for cotinine are after I use a lower nic level. Although I have seen since then drug kits you can use at home to test yourself and kits to somehow make it come back clean but haven't looked into this as yet. My daughter and her boss also vape and they believed the levels we get form vaping are so insignificant it wouldn't show up.

Interesting that they asked if you used snus OR NRT. I wonder if they would have changed the test to a CO test rather than cotinine? If that would have been the case, you would have passed. You should be able to ask for that test since it's more comprehensive toward health risks- smoking, woodburning and general pollution, all risk factors for cancer and other health issues. Of course, they only increase your premiums for smoking.

 

[Zee2006]

I don't know about doing that and believe me it's sooo tempting to just check the box that says nope I do not smoke and with a clean conscious because I really don't. I just applied for life insurance thru my daughter and tried it as a non smoker. I had the para med exam just urine collection and questions answered that I do not smoke and have not for two years. That is true although for a little while I still cheated on the occasional stinky. Never was asked if I vaped or usage of an ecig but asked about the snus or other NRTs and the reply was a truthful no. It came back I was a smoker. I asked my daughter to dig into it as I see a pulmonary doctor so did they reject me due to the damage I have done to my lungs or was it dirty urine. I was told it was the urine. I vape 18mg so I would really like to try it again to see how sensitive these test for cotinine are after I use a lower nic level. Although I have seen since then drug kits you can use at home to test yourself and kits to somehow make it come back clean but haven't looked into this as yet. My daughter and her boss also vape and they believed the levels we get form vaping are so insignificant it wouldn't show up.

If you vape any nicotine at all (from what I've read) or use any of the NRTs you will test out as a smoker, it's looking for the nicotine in your system. From what I've read, so far there is no way for them to tell where that nic comes from (vape or NRT). I also read that it can take weeks for nicotine to completely leave the body.

Is this pretty much what everyone has been hearing????

 

[steel bender]

I don't know about doing that and believe me it's sooo tempting to just check the box that says nope I do not smoke and with a clean conscious because I really don't. I just applied for life insurance thru my daughter and tried it as a non smoker. I had the para med exam just urine collection and questions answered that I do not smoke and have not for two years. That is true although for a little while I still cheated on the occasional stinky. Never was asked if I vaped or usage of an ecig but asked about the snus or other NRTs and the reply was a truthful no. It came back I was a smoker. I asked my daughter to dig into it as I see a pulmonary doctor so did they reject me due to the damage I have done to my lungs or was it dirty urine. I was told it was the urine. I vape 18mg so I would really like to try it again to see how sensitive these test for cotinine are after I use a lower nic level. Although I have seen since then drug kits you can use at home to test yourself and kits to somehow make it come back clean but haven't looked into this as yet. My daughter and her boss also vape and they believed the levels we get form vaping are so insignificant it wouldn't show up.

I was vaping 12mg nic only about 2-3 mls/day. And I tested positive for nicotine. Well no surprise there. So far, my insurance is only offering a discount to people who score at least a 70 out of 100 possible points. Well guess what, 30 points are attributed to nicotine alone, so unless you're perfect on every other tested health risk factor, you fail. Almost unbelievably, they are so far saying that if you fail (score less than 70) but come back for two more appointments, they will still give us the reduced premium. Somehow, I don't believe them and am working down to zero nic, or at least just the week before an appointment, lol.....

Edit: this whole thing is crazy, as I recently just aced a pulminary/respiratory test when compared to other people my height, age, and oh yeah, NON SMOKERS!!!!! Although the actual score was a little confusing, because they're idiots. They told me I was about average and also said I was in the 100th percentile, which would be WAY above average...

 

[Cavediver]

I was vaping 12mg nic only about 2-3 mls/day. er tested health risk factor, you fail. Almost unbelievably, they are so far saying that if you fail (score less than 70) but come back for two more appointments, they will still give us the reduced premium. Somehow, I don't believe them and am working down to zero nic, or at least just the week before an appointment, lol.....And I tested positive for nicotine. Well no surprise there. So far, my insurance is only offering a discount to people who score at least a 70 out of 100 possible points. Well guess what, 30 points are attributed to nicotine alone, so unless you're perfect on every oth

Edit: this whole thing is crazy, as I recently just aced a pulminary/respiratory test when compared to other people my height, age, and oh yeah, NON SMOKERS!!!!! Although the actual score was a little confusing, because they're idiots. They told me I was about average and also said I was in the 100th percentile, which would be WAY above average...

If you vape any nicotine at all (from what I've read) or use any of the NRTs you will test out as a smoker, it's looking for the nicotine in your system. From what I've read, so far there is no way for them to tell where that nic comes from (vape or NRT). I also read that it can take weeks for nicotine to completely leave the body.

Is this pretty much what everyone has been hearing????

If you have to pass that test, I suggest you give it a try prior to the real thing.
Nicotine-Tobacco-Test-Kit-PackA

Do a search for info about cotinine tests and spend a little time reading. Depending on the test it can be accurate for a few days (urine test, most likely) out to a couple of months (hair test, not likely).

 

[steel bender]

If you have to pass that test, I suggest you give it a try prior to the real thing.
Nicotine-Tobacco-Test-Kit-PackA

Do a search for info about cotinine tests and spend a little time reading. Depending on the test it can be accurate for a few days (urine test, most likely) out to a couple of months (hair test, not likely).

I don't yet know if I have to pass it or not. I'm guessing I do, only because I don't trust them. They've changed their story a couple times now. Originally they said they were going to lower the weekly family rate premium to 55 bucks if I passed, or raise it to $147/week if I failed. Since then they sent us a letter saying it would only be raised to $95/week if I don't take their tests, but that as long as I take their tests, I will get the reduced rate regardless of the score. If they hold to this, I'm further guessing that it will only be for one year, before they require a "passing grade".

 

[steel bender]

The whole thing has me ...... off. Nicotine should not be worth 30 out of 100 points, when they're not even testing for caffeine. My blood sugar was 118 and they put me in the high risk category for it. Well HELLO, I've been a type 1 diabetic for 9 years currently using an insulin pump, and that's a pretty damn good number for me. They didn't even test my a1-c, which is the real number you need to know for a diabetic. But they didn't take any of that into consideration, and just compared me with people who have a normal working pancreas.

My wife also failed, namely for two reasons. Even though she tested negative for nicotine they put her in the high risk category (I was in the extreme for testing positive), because she only quit smoking 6 months ago. They also said she was 37 pounds over weight, and didn't factor in at all the fact that she's 5 months pregnant!

 

[Myk]

I searched through ACA and the words "nicotine" or "cotinine" are not there. Smoking, tobacco and tobacco product are.
For those being told no nicotine, find out where you complain about illegal insurance practices.

As far as ecigs as tobacco products. That's a grey area, but for now they're not, until the FDA deems they are. If they deem them as a tobacco product even at 0mg that would sound like a court case waiting to happen.

If someone should decide to lie or use 0mg and get nicotine from NRT don't forget your insurance has to pay for that NRT now. If you're really mad at them the inhalers require a prescription and are quite expensive.

 

[steel bender]

I searched through ACA and the words "nicotine" or "cotinine" are not there. Smoking, tobacco and tobacco product are.
For those being told no nicotine, find out where you complain about illegal insurance practices.

As far as ecigs as tobacco products. That's a grey area, but for now they're not, until the FDA deems they are. If they deem them as a tobacco product even at 0mg that would sound like a court case waiting to happen.

If someone should decide to lie or use 0mg and get nicotine from NRT don't forget your insurance has to pay for that NRT now. If you're really mad at them the inhalers require a prescription and are quite expensive.

Well it sounds like I have some research and preparing to do, but I don't want to push any issues until they actually try to start coming down on us. For now, they're just being idiots and not actually penalizing anyone. I don't want to bring anything up which could potentially lead to a negative response.

 

[rothenbj]

An interesting article on the subject with guotes from Jon Bansass-

Surcharge Could Boost Smokers

"Banzhaf estimates that the smokers surcharge will increase health insurance costs by up to $12,000 annually per smoker. Maryland and Virginia employers will either pay the surcharge or pass it on to their workers who smoke.

D.C. employers are exempt, along with people who buy their own insurance in the District."

That is an interesting statement. Why does DC have an exception?

 

[Uma]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...492048-cities-being-paid-ban-x-stevevape.html

 

[Anjaffm]

I searched through ACA and the words "nicotine" or "cotinine" are not there. Smoking, tobacco and tobacco product are.
For those being told no nicotine, find out where you complain about illegal insurance practices.

As far as ecigs as tobacco products. That's a grey area, but for now they're not, until the FDA deems they are. If they deem them as a tobacco product even at 0mg that would sound like a court case waiting to happen.

If someone should decide to lie or use 0mg and get nicotine from NRT don't forget your insurance has to pay for that NRT now. If you're really mad at them the inhalers require a prescription and are quite expensive.

well said, indeed!