Tobacco use verification - insurance rquirement
JDH
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,107
Our open enrollment is this month. This year we are required to sign a "tobacco use certification" form which states that "I certify that I have not used any tabocco product (including , but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco, other oral tobacco products, or any product containing any nicotine) within the last two months, or have provided a signed notification from a physician indicating it is medically inadvisable to quit using tobacco or quitting would be unreasonablly difficult due to a medical condition." It goes on to require a written statement if you start using tobacco at any time after the certification is signed, you must disclose that fact, and advises that providing false information will be considered insurance fraud. Any use of tobacco products automatically results in higher premiums.
Interesting.
Interesting.
Comments
Looks like we're there, or at least too damn close for comfort.
We have lost the goal of freedom. We have exchanged it for the illusion of security. What you are seeing is the inevitable end result of the "war on drugs". The loss of freedom has been incremental. One step at a time. We were taught to hate a certain group, then allow our freedoms to be decimated in order to punish that group. Now the protections are gone, and
You're next!
soon, we'll all be obedient little cogs in the machine.
I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.
I think Amos is right, too. The war on drugs is a war on the citizens, and has conditioned the majority to accept the abuse of a minority population by legal means. Where does it end, or does it end?
An insurance company cannot sign you up as a non smoker then say you can never ever start smoking, if you do you have to let them know. In MN, ND they can't ask ever again for medical information after they sign you up. Even then, after the policy is in force for 2 years anything stated on the application doesn't matter. That is the end of the preexisting conditions phase.
They are breaking the law by saying you must disclose to them if you ever start smoking. Where is the Skydiving, snorkling with sharks, driving, walking in lightning storm disclosures? You don't see them because legally they cannot enforce those. Same with starting smoking.
IMHO - the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies don't like smoking (anything) because they don't see any of the $$ from it, hence higher insurance rates for smokers.
Since only the tobacco industry (and gov't) is able to get $ from smokers.
If GSK, Pfizer, etc. sold tobacco or marijuana products, they'd be pushing them just as much as they push anti-depressants, allergy meds, viagra, etc.....
It's all about the $$$, and the industries' relationships with one another - just my $0.02.
"I certify that I, or any family members covered by any Health Insurance Plan offered, that are over 18 years of age, may be subjected to periodic nicotine urine testing during callendar year 2013."
Oliva "V" infused bourbon!! There ya go, JDH! You're off the hook.
That is a very good question if infrequent cigar use would even show up, but you can bet money they wouldn't include it in their requirements if they couldn't test for it.