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Coverage for Tobacco Cessation Services and Products

In 2014, there is more cost coverage than ever before for tobacco cessation services and products.  If you or someone you know wants to quit using tobacco, it’s likely there will be no fees or co-pays in order to get help.

Nicotine addiction is a challenge to break away from – let’s be realistic. However, with the costs of using tobacco very high, for both your health and your wallet.  And the cost of quitting at zero or nearly zero, with huge benefits to your health.  Then a willingness and commitment to quit become much more powerful factors for success.

Below are several sources of coverage for tobacco users at NIH, and/or tobacco users in their families. 

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​Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHB)
​Federal employees are eligible for health insurance under the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan (FEHB), and have the option to cover only themselves or themselves and others in their family.  For each individual covered under a Federal employee’s plan, there are extensive coverage benefits for no-cost tobacco cessation services and products.
​​Affordable Care Act (ACA)
​Under the Preventive Health Benefits of the Affordable Care Act, free tobacco use screening is available for all adults – as well as tobacco cessation interventions for tobacco users, when those services are delivered by a network provider.
​NIH Cessation Services
​NIH and Federal Occupational Health (FOH) provide free tobacco cessation treatment services to NIH smokers who wish to quit through local FOH-sponsored clinics. The program is available at no cost to Federal employees if their current health insurance plan does not cover over-the-counter treatment options for tobacco addiction. (For example, on a family health insurance plan through a non-Federal spouse.) Interested Federal employees should complete the FOH enrollment form.
   
  

​1-800-QUIT-NOW
​Many people don’t know that you can talk to an expert about quitting, for no charge at all.  Each state has a 1-800-QUIT-NOW toll-free phone number, where trained coaches can provide information and help with quitting.

In addition, Live Help through online chat is available Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 11:00 pm ET.
​​Veterans Administration
​NIH employees (Federal or not) who are eligible for healthcare coverage from the Veterans Administration (VA) will also find increased assistance for quitting tobacco use.

Visit the VA’s Quit Smoking web site, and consider a no-cost consultation with a counselor through 1-855-QUIT-VET (Monday – Friday, 8:00 am-8:00 pm Eastern Time.