Approved tobacco cessation programs still available to avoid additional 2016 medical plan premium
September 18, 2015
There is still time to begin and complete an approved tobacco cessation program in order to avoid the $500 per person tobacco-user additional premium in 2016.
The additional premium applies to employees and covered spouses/same-sex domestic partners (SSDPs). If both individuals in the couple use tobacco and are covered by the plan, the additional annual premium will be $1,000.
A tobacco user is a person who has used tobacco in the past 12 months. This includes cigars, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco or any other tobacco product.
Employees and spouses/SSDPs who have used tobacco during the past 12 months may qualify for a waiver of the additional premium by completing an approved tobacco cessation program. Approved programs completed between Sept. 1 and Nov. 13, 2015, qualify for a full waiver of the 2016 additional premium. Programs completed prior to Sept. 1, 2015, only qualify for a waiver of the additional 2015 premium. Certificates of completion must be submitted to Human Resources by Dec. 15, 2015, to qualify for the waiver of the 2016 additional premium.
"Now is the time to take charge of your physical and financial wellness, and the tobacco cessation program and waiver can help you do that," says Eva Nodine, benefits director in Human Resources.
Tobacco users on all campuses still have a variety of no-cost approved cessation programs available that they may complete in time for a January 2016 waiver:
* Phone program for all campuses (Indiana Tobacco Quitline): Begin by Oct. 2, 2015.
* Health coaching at West Lafayette and Fort Wayne:
-- At Purdue's West Lafayette campus, begin by Oct. 2 for one-on-one health coaching at the Center for Healthy Living. To register, call 49-45239.
-- At Fort Wayne, begin by Oct. 2 for one-on-one health coaching. To register, call 260-481-5748.
* Classroom program at Purdue North Central. The program begins Sept. 30 and runs through Nov. 11. Register no later than Sept. 30 by calling 219-785-5519.
Employees who do not enroll in time to earn a January waiver may complete an approved program later in the year for a partial waiver of the 2016 additional premium.
Employees will certify their tobacco-user status and that of their covered spouses/SSDPs during the online benefits open enrollment process this fall. Those covered by a Purdue medical plan who do not certify their status will be considered tobacco users and will have the $500 additional annual premium applied in 2016. They will also have a $500 additional annual premium if they cover a spouse or an SSDP.
To qualify as a non-tobacco user and avoid the additional premium, a person must have been a non-tobacco user for at least 12 months immediately prior to completing the 2016 benefits enrollment or must have completed an approved tobacco cessation program as outlined above. Open enrollment will take place Oct. 26 through 6 p.m. EST Nov. 13.
Anyone with questions may contact Human Resources at 49-42222 or hr@purdue.edu or the regional campus Human Resources departments.
