What is a Non-Smoker Discount?

If you are like most Americans, you are looking for ways to reduce your costs for health care. One way you can do so is by taking advantage of the non-smoker discount. According to the CDC, tobacco is responsible for more deaths than motor vehicle crashes, suicides, murders, and even illegal drug use. It increases an individual’s risks for heart disease, cancer, aneurysm, and emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The health costs associated with these conditions can be astronomical, leading personal health insurance companies to offer discounts to non-smokers.

Smokers can also often take advantage of the non-smoker discount by participating in wellness or smoking cessation programs. These can provide them with positive ideas on ways they can quit smoking or chewing tobacco or otherwise improve their health habits.

Wellness programs for health insurance purposes must meet certain HIPAA standards in order to avoid discriminating based on an individual’s health status. It must:

• Have an incentive of 20 percent or less of the amount of coverage
• Have a wellness plan intended to promote health or reduce the incidence of disease
• Be equally available to everyone or offer a reasonable alternative to everyone
• Provide an annual opportunity for enrollment

Other rules may also apply to bring individual plans in line with HIPAA requirements.

Smoking or using tobacco in other forms can have a serious detrimental effect on your health. Taking advantage of a wellness program or smoking cessation program can be extremely beneficial in helping you kick the habit while granting you an opportunity to take advantage of the non-smoker discount associated with your group health coverage plan at the same time.

If you would like to learn more about your options for individual, group, or family health insurance plans, contact one of our experienced agents today.

 

 

Source: Los Angeles Health Insurance

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