snus and insurance premiums

[TropicalBob]

It's just amazing that so many posters - in so many threads - immediately try to think of a way around regulations or laws. How can I break them? That's not a proper question.

Sage and Jason had the only correct responses. Also, no night of being in a smoky bar is going to kick your urine's cotinine level to that of a regular snuser or smoker. Wishful thinking.

Are you a smoker? No, but you ARE a nicotine user -- and tests do not differentiate where or how you obtain a substance the insurance company wants to discriminate against with rates.

[tom502]

So, it's an unjust law. Do you just do as your told or try and rebel as much as you can? Should that woman have just sat in the back of the bus and kept quiet?

[Premium Parrots]

Nowadays, the insurance companys WILL make you submit to a cotinine test. Insurance cos. will make you pay about 40% more for your insurance if you test positive because of the great probability that you will have tobacco related illness' at some point. And if you do test positive you will have to stop using all tobacco products for at least 6 months then request to be tested again. Then if you test negative you will be charged the normal premium. If you have quit of six months it would be stupid anyways to start up again.

If you test negative and you decide to start up again they cannot refuse to pay for medical or life benefits because you decided to start. If you decide to change insurance companys you had better stop all tobacco use for at least 6 months before you apply. Just my experiances.....so far.

The insurance cos have done a ton of research on tobacco related issues and the public simply cannot change the insurance cos policys on tobacco. It just isn't going to happen. So, enjoy a nice cosy seat in the back of the bus with a nice big pris. Be sure to make faces at the kids in the cars that pass you by.

[tom502]

Well, I've always had work connected health insurance, and I've never been told to pee in a cup to check for nicotine. I wouldn't do it. It's against one's civil rights.

[Premium Parrots]

Well, I've always had work connected health insurance, and I've never been told to pee in a cup to check for nicotine. I wouldn't do it. It's against one's civil rights.

then your premium would reflect that you use nicotine. The insurance cos are not required by law to accept your application. Civil rights does not come into play in this situation. sorry

[chadizzy1]

this question came up the other day when i was changing my dental plan, they said "do you use tobacco products?" and i simply answered, "i don't smoke." and they said, "okay." and went on to the next questions. so i don't think it should matter....

[Liandri]

Family man here. I pee in a cup every 8 months to prove no tobacco use because I checked no. It applies to any and all tobacco. I have a nice little life insurance for the family (but I don't want to pay the premiums). I just don't use tobacco for a week or 2 and all test results show happy Liandri!

Plus its nice to have that first portion or pinch after a week away.

(EDIT: The pee test tests for nicotine, amongst any other drug usage test thingies. But especially with cigarette smokers the tests come up with other things that shouldn't naturally be present in your body. So at least gotta watch out with your playing the system and smoking... Don't know about American chew. Either way I wouldn't truly know, don't really use TOO much anymore, Kinda just blowing smoke out of my ass and telling what I've heard)

[kevin32]

If snus recieves enough attention, this might change in the USA. In Norway, they have socialized healthcare. Instead of paying premiums for tobacco users, they simply slap an added tax on tobacco products. However, since the Norwegian government is convinced that snus is a safer health alternative, thus snus is taxed 1/3 that of cigarettes (0.56KR per gram vs 1.74KR per gram). Once snus has been made aware of to insurance companies, and perhaps lobbied, changes could happen. However, insurance companies being privatized, they'll want to stall this development as it would cut into their profits.

[Redbeard]

If snus recieves enough attention, this might change in the USA. In Norway, they have socialized healthcare. Instead of paying premiums for tobacco users, they simply slap an added tax on tobacco products. However, since the Norwegian government is convinced that snus is a safer health alternative, thus snus is taxed 1/3 that of cigarettes (0.56KR per gram vs 1.74KR per gram). Once snus has been made aware of to insurance companies, and perhaps lobbied, changes could happen. However, insurance companies being privatized, they'll want to stall this development as it would cut into their profits.

Perhaps this would work with a single payer system in the US. With the way things are now, though? Fat chance. No company will willing give up a source of revenue, unless it's for another, bigger revenue stream.

[sgreger1]

They test for it. Can't get insurance beyond a certain amount without peeing in a cup. And even if you could, they find out later you lied on the application, they simply don't have to pay. Lousy way to screw your family if you ask me.

Yes this practise is completely ****ed, although I understand why they would want to know if your a tobacco user or not for cost/reserve reasons.

But ironicly, I don't think they drug test you, at least I have never heard of it. So you can smoke crack, but damn you if you snus.

[Tin Man]

When I got my current job I had to pee in a cup for a drug test, 9 panel I think, but they didn't test for nicotine. When I was able to get insured, I don't even remember having to answer any questions about tobacco use. This was four years ago though, and I've had a beer or nine since then, so maybe I just forgot.

[snusjus]

Here is an interesting idea:

Insurance companies should test for TSNAs, NOT nicotine. Users of reduced-harm tobacco products live longer; there is substantial scientific evidence to prove this claim. Nicotine itself is not harmful, its the delivery of the drug that differentiates the harmfulness to health. Users of snus shouldn't be discriminated against, since they are using a nearly harmless method for ingesting nicotine.