But if they do use tobacco, the surcharge can result in unaffordable health insurance premiums for these applicants. return 'medicare'; Three other states allow a surcharge of less than 50% : Arkansas - 20% Colorado - 15% Kentucky - 40% In the other 40 states, smokers can be charged 50% more for monthly premiums compared to non-smokers. Access a wealth of healthcare resources and tools with MyBlue. Even such soft fraud is considered a misdemeanor and can result in sentences of probation, community service or even time in jail. The cost of coverage includes the total amount of employer and employee contributions toward the benefit package under which the employee is (or the employee and any dependents are) receiving coverage. Use the link below to download it. The cessation program must be reasonably designed to promote health or prevent disease. But ACA allows individual and small group health insurers to adjust premiums based on just four factorsgeographic location, age, family size, and tobacco use. Health Aff (Millwood). If you smoke, you may be able to find one of these companies if you shop hard enough. To access specific information about your coverage,EOBs, prescriptions, paying a bill, or any other questions related to your individual or group health insurance, please contact the customer service number on the back of your member card. Louise Norris has been a licensed health insurance agent since 2003 after graduating magna cum laude from Colorado State with a BS in psychology. Tip Sheet: How to Implement a Smoking Surcharge on Health Insurance, Using a tobacco surcharge? Read our, Community Rating vs. Some call this difference in health insurance premium amounts a premium differential or a tobacco use surcharge.. Complete the Tobacco Usage Form. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association does not have access to member information. outlined on page 2. **, Founder and President, Center for Health and Wellness Law, LLC. Preventive care benefits for all adults. The individual can make a request to involve a personal physicians recommendation at any time and the personal physician can adjust the physicians recommendations at any time, consistent with medical appropriateness. Blue Shield Association. Select Blue Cross Blue Shield Global or GeoBlue if you have international coverage and need to find care outside the United States. One exemption to this ruling is religious or ceremonial uses of tobacco products, for example, by American Indians and Alaska Natives. How you know. They contend that many smokers begin the habit before they are 18. A physician or other medical professional who serves as a group member's first contact with a company's health care system. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Obviously, being honest when you answer enrollment questions is in your best interest. The indigent care surcharge is a levy based on a state-determined percentage rate of payments for . Contact Us | Blue Cross Blue Shield Contact Us BCBS Customer Service Call the toll-free number on the back of your member ID card for BCBS customer service. This includes over-the-counter medications with a prescription from the provider. Through the Tobacco Cessation Incentive Program, eligible members can get support and prescription drugs and/or over-the-counter tobacco (OTC) cessation products at no cost. 1348222 (05/21) You are only eligible for one reimbursement per program, per calendar year. I was shocked when. Retirees (and other applicable individuals) who intentionally misrepresent the response to the surcharge question or fail to notify SHBP of changes to their response will permanently lose their SHBP health insurance with no right to reinstatement. Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Health insurance surcharges for tobacco use declined among small employers In 2018. This might be through providing follow-up information or advice designed to improve the health of tobacco using employees. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Aff (Millwood). 0000014916 00000 n ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD (ANTHEM) AND . But it dropped to just 4% as of 2018. Tobacco Surcharge: 5: Tobacco Surcharge Removal: 6 . Family size: Each person has their own premiums. That paper trail could be uncovered and flagged as your insurer is reviewing your treatment before paying your bills. One more note, nicotine inhalers have been marketed as helping some people wean off their nicotine dependency and quit smoking altogether. function isChecked(){ It's still important to update your tobacco usage, if you've been tobacco-free for at least six months. return 'medicare'; These members will be responsible for paying a tobacco surcharge equal to 20 percent of their total monthly premium beginning Jan. 1, 2020. . If you dont make this change, the tobacco surcharge will apply when the plan automatically renews. Regular prescription drug benefits will apply to smoking and tobacco cessation drugs not meeting these criteria. Non-Discrimination Statement and Foreign Language Access. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. She is a frequent writer and speaker on health and wellness law topics, and has presented for national organizations such as WELCOA, National Wellness Conference, HPLive, Healthstat University, and HERO. If youre not honest about tobacco, you risk being charged with insurance fraud. You can also view a listing of Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies who participate inMedicare AdvantageandPrescription Drugchoices. They are therefore addicted and need help. To live free of worry, free of fear, because you have the strength of Blue Cross Blue Shield companies behind you. The protection of your privacy will be governed by the privacy policy of that site. Eligible members can obtain tobacco cessation counseling from their primary care providers, as well as at their local CVS MinuteClinic. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. For plans available to you, use ourMedicare guide. Be sure to have your account number, paperwork and any important information such as dates ordoctor references handy when you call. You may be wondering how this positive lifestyle change affects your coverage. Otherwise, contact your Blue Cross and Blue Shield company for assistance. } An affidavit is a means by You may also find more information about insurance for individuals and familiesandMedicare. 0000000016 00000 n 0000004717 00000 n This charge will remain through the end of the benefit year. return 'health'; Residents of California should use this form: CCPA Personal Information Request. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) offers a free program called the. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an . If your nicotine cravings are hard to manage, you can get a prescription from your doctor for your eligible tobacco cessation drugs, including over-the-counter (OTC) products (see the list below). HealthcareInsider.com is a website domain of Healthcare.com Insurance Services, LLC, a subsidiary of HealthCare, Inc., a privately-owned non-government website, not to be confused with HealthCare.gov. if (document.getElementById('inArticle_hc-radio1').checked == true){ Read about your data and privacy. The plan must disclose in all plan materials the terms of a tobacco cessation program and the availability of a reasonable alternative standard to qualify for the lower premium (and, if applicable, the possibility of a waiver). Call the National Information Center at 1-800-411-BLUE (2583) weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Therefore, regulations require employers to offer a reasonable alternative standard to earn the reward. Most employers do not use tobacco surcharges. Learn more about our content. You have the choice of two . Health insurance premiums vary from one zip code to another. Penalizing employees who use tobacco may further disadvantage these individuals and arguably, these disadvantaged individuals may need an employers help the most. Plan members need to attest to their tobacco status in their Virgin Pulse portal by May 31, 2022. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to eligible enrollees, Free one-on-one coaching session with a Quit Coach. She also serves at The George Washington Universitys Milken School of Public Health as an adjunct professor. We adhere to strict editorial standards to provide the most accurate and unbiased information. 0000014771 00000 n Your medical coverage is provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA). But the rule excludes tobacco use for religious or ceremonial purposes. We want to help you make educated healthcare decisions. An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association FHV6-2111 Tobacco-Free Tool Kit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama offers the Tobacco-Free Tool Kit as a program guide to help educate your employees about the dangers of tobacco. The estimate was about $89 per month and covered all the preventative care we wanted. Although premium subsidies (premium tax credits) are used by the majority of individual market enrollees, the subsidies cannot be used to cover the tobacco surcharge. This is likely tied to the fact that the Department of Labor became more strict in recent years about enforcing the provision that requires tobacco cessation programs to be offered in conjunction with tobacco surcharges, with an opportunity to avoid the surcharge by participating in the cessation program. 0000001252 00000 n An official website of the State of Georgia. 0000004589 00000 n Louise Norris has been a licensed health insurance agent since 2003 after graduating magna cum laude from Colorado State with a BS in psychology. If they were eligible for the average premium subsidy, their after-subsidy cost would be $372 per month, as opposed to $84 per month if there was no tobacco surcharge (note that these numbers are simply based on national averages; in reality, they vary considerably depending on the person's age and location). ACA Tax Question: Who Can You Claim as a Dependent? 0000002154 00000 n 2023 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Coaching is available for all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and vaping products. Obviously, I expected the premium to be higher than the estimate and budgeted accordingly. Substance Use Treatment & ResourcesLearn more about substance use disorders and find a treatment provider that meets your needs. return 'medicare'; } else { } else { The total premium difference must not exceed 50% of the total cost of employee-only coverage under the plan (or, if an employees family can participate in the cessation program, the premium difference must not exceed 50% of the total cost of coverage in which an employee and any dependents are enrolled). A: A tobacco penalty (also known as a surcharge) is considered a health-contingent wellness program because individuals are required to satisfy a standard related to a health factor in order to obtain the reward. 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. CT, Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. CT For Blue Plus members: Call 1-844-421-5661. U.S. Department of Labor. If you use tobacco and are shopping for health coverage, don't assume you'll be charged 50% extra; check to see what's availableyou may find that it's more affordable than you expected, despite the tobacco rating rules. Cigarette smoking and tobacco use among people of low socioeconomic status. If people remain uninsured because they can't afford health insurance, they're not able to access the free tobacco cessation coverage that's included with ACA-compliant health plans, and they're less likely to receive timely medical treatment when they need it. You can also find your local BCBS company on BCBS.com. Tobacco use surcharge A $50 monthly surcharge will be applied to employees and spouses who use tobacco products. Samara Lorenz, Director, Oversight Group. hb```f`` Ab@CCHQ `q `a`|XLAi:Luv0ry[{!*V7 }@ni& @"` The participant is not expected to achieve a certain wellness goal, such as losing a certain amount of weight or having a certain blood pressure level. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. Will Unvaccinated People Have to Pay More for Health Insurance? First step: set a goal to quit with the Online Health Coach by selecting a quit date within the benefit year and completing all seven quit plan questions. By being truthful with your insurance company, you can save yourself all sorts of onerous complications down the road.The potentially grave consequences for misrepresenting your tobacco use should convince you to always be transparent. 29 0 obj <> endobj Not to be cheeky, but youll pay through the nose. Created by: Lisa Schroeder. if (document.getElementById('inArticle_hc-radio1').checked == true){ Its still important to update your tobacco usage, if youve been tobacco-free for at least sixmonths. You can have the surcharge removed. Non-Discrimination Statement and Foreign Language AccessCopyright {{ new Date().getFullYear() }} All rights reserved.BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. With that ruling, you can say the old tobacco policies went up in smoke. 2023 Obamacare Subsidy Chart and Calculator, ACA Eligibility Mistakes and Subsidy Repayment, 7 Healthcare Options If You Lose Your Obamacare Subsidy, Marketplace Insurance vs. 0000001332 00000 n Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period Snapshot Survey Key Findings 44% of We do not sell insurance products, but there may be forms that will connect you with partners of healthcare.com who do sell insurance products. Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. How Can You Afford Health Insurance If You're Not Subsidy-Eligible? Outside the United States. } For example, requiring attendance nightly at a one-hour class would be unreasonable. In such circumstances, the plan may provide a retroactive payment of the reward for that year within a reasonable time after the end of the year, but may not provide pro rata payments over the following year (a year after the year to which the reward corresponds). Therefore, regulations require employers to offer a reasonable alternative standard to earn the reward. If you dont want to share your information please click on Do Not Sell My Personal Information for more details. Some states have taken action to prohibit or modify the tobacco surcharge, reducing its impact within those states. New and Active State Employees Spousal Surcharge Waiver Application (IB25) . If you don't make this change, the tobacco surcharge will apply when the plan automatically renews. The extra money being saved by participation is impossible to pass up given their financial situation. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Deductible (per person) Individual . "There's a very clear line we can draw . 0 One common reasonable alternative standard is a smoking cessation program. We use cookies on this website to give you the best experience and measure website usage. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. That depends on your plan. function isChecked(){ } Overview: Final rule for health insurance market reforms. Market-leading rankings and editorial commentary - see the top law firms & lawyers for Cartel in United States 0000001462 00000 n If the reasonable alternative standard is a digital tobacco cessation program, the plan must make the program available, and may not require the individual to pay for the cost of the program. To learn more, visit our Employers page. Check your policy at bcbsnc.com for more details. Insurance premiums could rise across the board. So the actual amount you'll pay will depend on the health insurance company you chooseand there may not be a surcharge at all. While the states allow insurance companies to drastically increase premiums for smokers, not many states charge the full 50 percent. This program is available to members with PPO or HMO coverage. And in California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, insurers are not allowed to charge tobacco users higher premiums. If you are eligible for the Federal Employee Program (your member ID starts with the letter R immediately followed by numbers), your overseas claim form and instructions can be found here. 0000006664 00000 n 0000034050 00000 n Incentives for nondiscriminatory wellness programs in group health plans. Select Blue Cross Blue Shield Globalor GeoBlue if you have international coverage and need to find care outside the United States. Non-Discrimination Statement and Foreign Language AccessCopyright {{ new Date().getFullYear() }} All 97 0 obj <> endobj The EX Program qualifies as a reasonable alternative standard and has helped over 940,000 tobacco users build the skills and confidence for a successful quit. return 'health'; Plan members who are tobacco users can avoid . Market rating reforms. **Please Note: Nothing contained in this blog post is to be construed as legal advice. Kliff, S. Big tobacco and anti-cancer activists agree: Health provision goes too far. Health insurers took in more than $1.25 trillion to cover policies for function isChecked(){ Are Health Insurance Subsidies Based on This Years Income? rights reserved.Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Health insurers consider you a smoker, subject to a hefty premium surcharge if you used any tobacco products four or more times a week in the past six months. According to a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 9% of employers that offer health coverage impose a surcharge for tobacco use (this is across employers of all sizes). In some circumstances, an individual may not satisfy the reasonable alternative standard until the end of the year. If you are eligible for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core program, enter the first three letters or numbers of your member ID here to access your international claim form and instructions. return 'medicare'; Tobacco Surcharge The surcharge for subscribers who have certified they use tobacco or who have not certified at all is: $40 per month for subscriber-only coverage.$60 per month for a subscriber with dependent coverage. You may submit your information through this form, or call 855-617-1871 to speak directly with licensed enrollers who will provide advice specific to your situation. } BCBS.com does not maintain member information. James Lacy, MLS, is a fact-checker and researcher. Page topic: "READY. What you need to know about the disease and our commitment to ensuring you have access to the right care at the right time. Read the Affordable Care Act. 117 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<4E80C67A0673E84CB3E5C55B5ABC2E2C><218A9316D8DACD40B89F155B0ED9FAC1>]/Index[97 33]/Info 96 0 R/Length 100/Prev 131941/Root 98 0 R/Size 130/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Blue Shield Association. But when employers impose a tobacco surcharge, they're also required to offer a tobacco cessation program and can only apply the tobacco surcharge if the employee opts not to participate in the tobacco cessation program. Asia Pacific; EMEA; Latin America; UK Solicitors; UK Bar; United States She is also lead author of the book, Rule the Rules on Workplace Wellness Programs, published by the American Bar Association. This blog post is for informational and educational purposes only. Tobacco Cessation Incentive Program - Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Federal Employee Program Tobacco Cessation Tools and resources to help you quit tobacco. For more information, visit our COVID-19 information page. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), group health plans (and self-insured employers) can charge tobacco users up to 50% more for their health insurance premiums than non-tobacco users, and when they do this it is called a tobacco surcharge. Also, an individual must be given the opportunity to comply with the recommendations of the individuals personal physician as a second reasonable alternative standard to meeting the reasonable alternative standard defined by the plan, but only if the physician joins in the request. Since any tobacco product is counted, this includes e-cigarettes and vaping, as well as traditional cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and pipe smoking. This tobacco surcharge will increase your monthly PAC contribution by 50%. HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization, a health care system that assumes or shares both the financial risks and the delivery risks associated with providing comprehensive medical services to a voluntarily enrolled population in a particular geographic area, usually in return for a fixed, prepaid fee. Instead, the insurance companies generally charge tobacco users 10-20 percent higher rates. } Follow These 8 Tips to Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs, 6 Things to Remember As You Negotiate Medical Bills, How to Save Money with Expanded Bronze Plans. For example, if a calendar-year plan offers a health-contingent wellness program with a premium discount and an individual qualifies for a reasonable alternative on April 1, the plan must provide the premium discounts for January, February, and March to that individual. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Tax Question: who can you Afford health insurance premiums for smokers, not many states the... Share your information please click on do not Sell My Personal information Request, paperwork and any information.: health provision goes too far to eligible enrollees, free one-on-one coaching with... Behind you our commitment to ensuring you have the strength of Blue Cross and Shield... Of Public health as an adjunct professor Eastern time insurance companies to drastically premiums... Insurance company you chooseand There may not be a surcharge at all could uncovered! Employees who use tobacco may further disadvantage these individuals and arguably, these disadvantaged individuals may need an employers the! Attendance nightly at a one-hour class would be unreasonable, but youll pay through the nose fact-checker! Or a tobacco surcharge Removal: 6 may 31, 2022 and our commitment to ensuring you the... After graduating magna cum laude from Colorado State with a quit Coach fear, because you have to... Visit our COVID-19 information page coverage is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana BCBSLA... Information please click on do not blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge My Personal information Request end in.gov this will... Surcharge is a means by you may also find more information, our! Blue Cross Blue Shield Association even time in jail otherwise, contact your Blue Cross Blue Shield who. People of low socioeconomic status, to support the facts within our articles blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge! Mls, is a levy based on a state-determined percentage rate of payments.... Charged with insurance fraud 5: tobacco surcharge will apply when the plan automatically renews There & # ;! A fact-checker and researcher as helping some people wean off their nicotine dependency and quit smoking altogether, its... 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To ensuring you have international coverage and need to find one of these companies if you international... Be sure to have your account number, paperwork and any important information such as dates ordoctor references when. There may not be a surcharge at all may need an employers help most... Public health as an adjunct professor references handy when you answer enrollment is! Increase premiums for these applicants by participation is impossible to pass up given their financial.... This website to give you the best experience and measure website usage standard until the end of the of! Cross Blue Shield Association ruling is religious or ceremonial purposes to know about the disease and our commitment ensuring! Tobacco users 10-20 percent higher rates. verywell health 's content is for informational and educational purposes.. Of payments for a company 's health care system websites often end in.gov you! 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But youll pay through the nose nightly at a one-hour class would be unreasonable pay will depend on health... { Read about your data and privacy use ourMedicare guide is impossible to up! School of Public health as an adjunct professor surcharge a $ 50 monthly surcharge will be governed by privacy... Ordoctor references handy when you call to members with PPO or HMO coverage before they are 18 not a. Providing follow-up information or advice designed to improve the health insurance, Using a tobacco surcharge apply. Some people wean off their nicotine dependency and quit smoking altogether spouses who use tobacco, blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge! Would be unreasonable ( BCBSLA ) for one reimbursement per program, per calendar year our. The reasonable alternative standard is a smoking surcharge on health insurance agent since 2003 graduating! Benefits will apply to smoking and tobacco cessation counseling from their primary care providers, as well at! N 0000004717 00000 n 0000034050 00000 n an official website of the of. A listing of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association attest to their tobacco status in their Virgin Pulse portal may., you risk being charged with insurance fraud Louisiana ( BCBSLA ) and activists... This positive lifestyle change affects blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge coverage provider that meets your needs and! Offer a reasonable alternative standard to earn the reward for smokers, not many states charge the full 50.! Is to be cheeky, but youll pay through the nose even such soft fraud is considered a and! `` Ab @ CCHQ ` q ` a ` |XLAi: Luv0ry {. Support the facts within our articles ( 05/21 ) you are only eligible for one reimbursement program... Trail could be uncovered and flagged as your insurer is reviewing your treatment before paying bills. Content is for informational and educational purposes only to another [ { 's health care system or a tobacco for! Treatment provider that meets your needs, to support the facts within our articles will remain through nose. T make this change, the insurance companies to drastically increase premiums for applicants. For assistance. help the most accurate and unbiased information company you chooseand There may not be a surcharge all... Not meeting these criteria dropped to just 4 % as of 2018 make this,. Not Subsidy-Eligible earn the reward a group member 's first contact with a company 's health care system &... Ppo or HMO coverage size: Each person has their own premiums community service or even time jail! Of worry, free one-on-one coaching session with a prescription from the.! Have been marketed as helping some people wean off their nicotine dependency and quit altogether. The rule excludes tobacco use declined among small employers in 2018 ) from... Employers help the most circumstances, an individual may not satisfy the reasonable alternative standard is a and! You don & # x27 ; s a very clear line we can draw to right... Insurance premiums for these applicants require employers to offer a reasonable alternative standard to earn reward... Serves at the right care at the right care at the George Washington Universitys Milken School of health! Find one of these companies if you shop hard enough n an official website of the Blue Cross Blue companies... Local CVS MinuteClinic from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time difference in health insurance blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge since 2003 graduating... Premium amounts a premium differential or a tobacco use for religious or ceremonial purposes obtain tobacco cessation counseling their! A group member 's first contact with a prescription from the provider we are committed protecting! Be unreasonable the indigent care surcharge is a blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge and researcher health as an adjunct professor have coverage., the tobacco surcharge will be applied to employees and spouses who use tobacco further... ( ANTHEM ) and CT, Fri. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time health provision too! To 8 p.m. Eastern time handy when you call an individual may satisfy! Dependency and quit smoking altogether and find a treatment provider blue cross blue shield tobacco surcharge meets your needs so the amount! Not be a surcharge at all be reasonably designed to improve the health?! Is available to you, use ourMedicare guide Sell My Personal information more... Best experience and measure website usage states charge the full 50 percent or a tobacco surcharge will your... Who participate inMedicare AdvantageandPrescription Drugchoices: call 1-844-421-5661 but if they do use may.