Papers & Tip Sheets

Tip Sheet: How to Implement a Smoking Surcharge on Health Insurance

Tip Sheet: How to Implement a Smoking Surcharge on Health Insurance

A smoking surcharge on health insurance can increase both uptake and engagement in a quit-tobacco program.

In fact, EX Program clients that offer an incentive enroll 3.5 times more of their eligible employees than clients that do not offer an incentive.

In addition, our clients that provide an incentive have employees who complete more than twice the number of program steps on average than clients that do not offer an incentive.

Incentives can help tobacco users take action today

At any given time, about 70% of smokers want to quit, but they may not want to quit TODAY. By using external motivation—such as a smoking surcharge on health insurance—employers and health plans can tip the scales in favor of action today.

Our Client Success team works with clients to design and implement smoking surcharges that emphasize the EX Program’s commitment to meet tobacco users where they are. This kind of consultative support can be key to using incentives successfully and getting the results you want.

When done effectively, over time, extrinsic motivation can transform into intrinsic motivation.

For example, an EX member recently shared in our online EX Community, “I really want to quit this time for good. Not because of the incentive from my employer, but because I hate having this vice totally controlling me.”

See how to use incentives to help more of your population live free from tobacco.

Download the tip sheet now and learn:

  • What incentive amount to use with your population
  • How long to offer an incentive
  • How to measure the effectiveness of a smoking surcharge on health insurance or other incentive
  • What to look for in a reasonable alternative that you offer in combination with your incentive

 


For more insights on how to use a smoking surcharge on health insurance to help tobacco users quit, visit:

What is a Tobacco Surcharge and How Does My Company Offer One?

Tobacco Surcharge on Health Insurance in Legal Crosshairs: Is Your Wellness Program Compliant?

Quit-smoking Incentives and Reasonable Alternative Standards: What You Need to Know

 

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