Tobacco users to pay more for health insurance at local company
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Some smokers are upset after West Tennessee Healthcare announced an insurance surcharge. If hospital employees or their spouse admit to using any form of tobacco, an extra $25 will be taken out of their bi-weekly paychecks. “Have you used tobacco in the last six months, yes or no?” State Farm insurance agent Wes Harris asked in general. Harris said the answer to the question determines how much an insurance policy holder pays, and he said it is common practice these days. If you smoke, you pay more for coverage. Not everyone thinks it is fair. “You are seeing warning labels and are paying for it with your body,” said Kelly Venson, a smoker. “I don’t think insurance companies should charge more.” West Tennessee Healthcare officials said the surcharge is because the No. 1 cause of preventable deaths in the United States is tobacco use. But officials said there are two ways to dodge the fee — be tobacco free two months prior to the annual enrollment that begins in November, or enroll in the hospital’s smoking cessation program.
