It’s not too late to get nicotine-free in 2022!

November 29, 2022 by Kim Rau

How are those 2022 New Year’s resolutions going? Did you start the year on a mission to quit smoking or using other tobacco products but somewhere along the way you got sidetracked?

Now is a great time to revisit those resolutions because nicotine cessation aids are covered at 100% under the preventive provisions of the State’s health plan!

Nicotine cessation products can be used to help members quit tobacco and nicotine use. These include over the counter quit aids like patches, gum and lozenges, and tobacco cessation drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor. Details about this benefit can be found in each plan document posted on the Medical page.

Health Benefits of Quitting:

  • Lowered risk of lung cancer and many other types of cancer.
  • Reduced risk for disease and early death. While the health benefits are greater for people who stop at earlier ages, there are benefits at any age. You are never too old to quit.
  • Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the blood vessels in outside your heart).

Source: cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/quitting

Members enrolled in the State’s health plan can also access a 12-week tobacco cessation workshop in the WellConnected section of the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal, https://members.bcidaho.com. Members can also call the customer service number on the back of their member ID card for more information about programs and quit aids.

Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID card handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.

The Office of Group Insurance is required to make available to all members the annual compliance notices. These notices are posted on the right hand column of the OGI homepage at: https://ogi-webdev.idaho.gov in the section called Required Notices and Information.