tobacco cessation assistance letter

NEW FOR 2013 - Discounts Available Payroll Deductions!With a continued focus on your well being, this year we are rewarding you with discounted payroll deductions if you do not use tobacco products. The discount will also apply to tobacco users who are willing to enroll and actively participate in the Cigna Quit Today Tobacco Cessation Program. The Cigna program offers tobacco users either an on-line program or a telephonic program which includes your own dedicated wellness coach to help you successfully kick the habit. As part of the program you can choose to receive over-the-counter Nicotine Replacement Therapy in the form of patch or gum at no charge. (Please note: The program is unable to offer or prescribe medications such as Chantix).

Tobacco Products include: smoking and smokeless tobacco products, tobacco through a cigarette, pipe, cigar, chewing tobacco, or ingesting tobacco in any other way

Many health studies show that if an individual uses tobacco products, it directly impacts his or her health. This in turn relates to more claims under the medical plan. When enrolling in your medical plan this year, you will need to identify yourself a Tobacco Free Employee, a Tobacco User Employee, or as a Tobacco User – Transition Employee. The term Tobacco User-Transition Employees is someone who is willing to actively participate in or complete the Cigna Quit Today Tobacco Cessation Program. The status that you indicate will determine your payroll deduction for 2013 as shown in the chart below.

Medical Plans

Tobacco Free Employee Tobacco User-Transition Employee** Tobacco User Employee

Rates include discount January-June July-December(rate includes

surcharge)

High Deductible 70/50 OAP For those no longer eligible

for the discount. Employee Only $21.91 $21.91 $32.59 $32.59

Employee/Child(ren) $37.03 $37.03 $47.70 $47.70Employee/Spouse $48.21 $48.21 $58.88 $58.88Employee/Family $67.71 $67.71 $78.38 $78.38

70/50 OAP Employee Only $41.09 $41.09 $52.84 $52.84


80/60 OAP Employee Only $57.64 $57.64 $70.45 $70.45


*In order to maintain your status and continue to receive your discounted payroll deduction, you will be required to enroll in Cigna’s program and be actively participating, or have completed the program by June 30, 2013. If you do not, you will begin paying the Tobacco User rate and no longer be eligible for the Tobacco Free discount beginning with the first payroll following July 1, 2013.

Cigna Quit Today Tobacco Cessation Program Options:

Please take this opportunity to review the Tobacco Cessation program options offered through Cigna.

In order to maintain your status and continue to receive your reduced payroll deduction, you will be required to enroll in one of the programs below and be actively participating, or have completed the

program, by June 30, 2013. If you do not, you will begin paying the Tobacco payroll deduction rate effective July 1, 2013.

Telephonic Program – work with a dedicated wellness coach to help you quitCall 1-855-246-1873

Upon enrollment a wellness coach is assigned and an initial assessment is completed. All calls thereafter are initiated by your wellness coach based on an agreed upon schedule.

o First Call: Set your quit date and develop an individualized quit plan.o Subsequent Calls: Number and frequency of ongoing calls are done based on your

preference. Sessions are 20-30 minutes long.o Follow-up Calls: 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months after quit date

As part of the program you can choose to receive over-the-counter Nicotine Replacement Therapy in the form of patch or gum at no charge. (Please note: The program is unable to offer or prescribe medications such as Chantix).

Online Program – complete a personalized online program Visit www.myCigna.com

Individuals create a personalized log in and password The program is broken out into two modules: 1. Prepare to Quit and 2. Prepare to Quit for Good In addition to weekly content and e-mails, the online program features other interactive tools, including:

o Instant Chat: chat with a health advocate or coach about common questions 8a – 5p (CST) o Online Diary and exercises: Enter triggers, plans, and complete learning exercises designed

to help you stay quito Savings Calculator: based on your usage, shows your savings over time by quitting

As part of the program you can choose to receive over-the-counter Nicotine Replacement Therapy in the form of patch or gum at no charge. (Please note: The program is unable to offer or prescribe medications such as Chantix).

Call at 1-855-246-1873 or visit www.myCigna.com to enroll

We congratulate you in making the first step to live tobacco free and wish you luck in a successful completion. More information about the Cigna Quit Today Tobacco Cessation Program will be sent after open enrollment to any employee who currently uses tobacco products and is willing to transition to a tobacco free status. You can also call

Cigna’s OPEN ENROLLMENT HOTLINE for more information………..

"Tobacco Free" or "Tobacco User" vs. "Smoker". If they are using an affidavit to administer the premium differential "tobacco free" is the term more commonly used.

http://www.mycigna.com/

Here is some sample policy language that might help too. Dunbar would include their vehicles in the policy because they are trying to address smoking among their armored truck drivers.

PolicyIt is [COMPANY'S] policy to provide a workplace that is free of all tobacco use. All employees, contractors, vendors, and visitors are prohibited from using tobacco, including all smokeless tobacco products, on [COMPANY'S] premises. We are committed to helping people to live healthier lives. This tobacco-free policy furthers that commitment to our employees and all others who we interact with on our premises.

The use of tobacco by [COMPANY'S] employees is further prohibited off [COMPANY'S] premises during company-sponsored meetings, activities and events.

Applies toThis policy applies to:

all employees contractors customers guests persons doing business with [COMPANY'S] vendors

DefinitionsPremises - includes all work areas, including break rooms and cafeterias, all parking lots, private vehicles on parking lots, company grounds including leased space.

This letter explains how to enroll in the Smoking Cessation program through CIGNA and also provides an overview of the two programs available. Please take this opportunity to review the Smoking Cessation programs available through CIGNA. In order to maintain your status and continue to receive your reduced payroll deduction, you will be required to enroll in one of the programs below and be actively participating or have completed the program by June 30, 2013. If you do not, you will begin paying the Smoker payroll deduction effective July 1, 2013.

CIGNA Smoking Cessation Program OptionsTelephonic Program

Upon enrollment a wellness coach is assigned, call times are scheduled when convenient for you and an initial assessment is completed

All calls thereafter are initiated by your wellness coach based on your agreed upon schedule Coaching sessions are 20-30 minutes in length (reminder calls are made the day before each session) Initial Assessment

o Workbook and toolkit is sent to your home address First Coaching Call

o A “Quit Date” is set (generally within 2 weeks) Ongoing Coaching Calls

o Scheduled based on your preferenceo Session 1 – takes place within 3 days of “Quit Date”o Session 2 – takes place within 2 weeks of Session 1o Session 3 – takes place within 24-26 days after “Quit Date”o Session 4 – takes place within 42-45 days of “Quit Date”

Optional Nicotine Replacement Patch Program

o Your Wellness Coach will decide if this program is appropriate for you based on your nicotine use

o Encompasses an 8-week step-down therapy program for those who smoke a minimum of 10 cigarettes per day

o An 8-week supply of Novartis Habitrol Nicotine Transdermal patches will be provided (free of charge) as part of this therapy program

Online Program Individuals create a personalized log in and password (separate from their login for mycigna.com) Personal pre-program questionnaire is completed to gather additional information One program broken out into two modules

o Planning to Quit – helps prepare individuals to successfully quit (2 weeks prior to “Quit Date”) Week 1 – Planning to Quit Week 2 – Quit for Good/Preparing to Quit)

o Quit for Good – starts automatically after Planning to Quit and should begin on an individual’s “Quit Date” to maintain motivation during the first months of being tobacco free

Week 1 – Benefits of Stopping Smoking Week 2 – Weight Management Week 3 – Looking Better Inside and Out Week 4 – Planning for the Future Week 5 – Coping with Slip-ups Week 6 – Congratulations (Program Complete) Week 8 – Don’t Give Up Week 10 – 30-Day Outcome Survey Week 12 – Celebrate Your Success 6 Months – Outcome Survey 12 Months – Outcome Survey

In order to enroll in one of the CIGNA smoking cessation programs noted above, please contact CIGNA directly at 1-866-417-QUIT (7848) or visit www.mycigna.com. If you choose to enroll in the telephonic program, you will receive a welcome kit from CIGNA. For those enrolling in the online program, all communications are available online. Once you sign-up for one of the programs, all ongoing communication will be provided by CIGNA.

We congratulate you in making the first step to live tobacco free and wish you luck in a successful completion.

Discounts Available for 2013 Payroll DeductionsWhen enrolling in your Medical plan, you will need to identify yourself as Non-Smoker, Smoker or Smoker in Transition. The term Smoker in Transition applies to a Smoker who is willing to actively participate in or complete the CIGNA smoking cessation program. The status that you indicate will determine your payroll deduction for 2013 (please refer to the payroll deduction sheet for more details).

For purposes of the Wellness Program, the definition of a Smoker is someone who smokes cigarettes, cigars or a pipe OR someone who uses smokeless tobacco including dip, snuff or smokeless pouches. Many health studies show that if an individual smokes, it directly impacts his or her health. This in turn relates to more claims under the medical plan. With a focus on Wellness this year, we are rewarding employees with discounted payroll deductions for those who complete a Health Assessment and are a Non-Smoker status.

Jason Pharmaceuticals offers a non-smoker rate discount to employees who elect medical insurance coverage and do not use tobacco products. This means that tobacco users will pay more for their coverage. However, individuals for whom quitting smoking is unreasonably difficult due to a medical condition (such as addiction to nicotine) may avoid the surcharge by taking all of the following steps:

□ I currently do not use tobacco. This includes tobacco through a cigarette, pipe, cigar, chewing tobacco, or ingesting tobacco in any other way.

OR

http://www.mycigna.com/

□ I currently use tobacco and it is unreasonably difficult for me to stop due to a medical condition. I agree to abide by all of the steps listed above. (Please complete the release on page 2 for verification purposes).

I understand checking one of the above boxes makes me eligible for lower payroll deductions for my medical insurance coverage and that falsifying information may render my medical insurance coverage invalid retroactive to the effective date of coverage. Falsification may also lead to termination

Tobacco - includes smoking and smokeless tobacco products.

Tobacco Free

Employee

Tobacco User-Transition Employee* Tobacco User Employee

January-June July-December(rate includes

surcharge)

High Deductible 70/50 OAP Plan

Employee Only $21.91 $21.91 $32.59 $32.59Employee/Child(ren) $37.03 $37.03 $47.70 $47.70

Employee/Spouse $48.21 $48.21 $58.88 $58.88Employee/Family $67.71 $67.71 $78.38 $78.38

70/50 OAP Plan Employee Only $41.09 $41.09 $52.84 $52.84


80/60 OAP Plan Employee Only $57.64 $57.64 $70.45 $70.45


* Employee who is transitioning fromsmoker to non-smoker by participating in Cigna's "Quit Today" tobacco cessation

program. Noncompliance results in the surcharge rate!

tobacco cessation assistance letter

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