Overview

Studies have shown that smoking is the leading cause of death attributed to modifiable lifestyle-based behavior. As a first step in encouraging employees to stop using tobacco, in 2008 Travelers introduced tobacco cessation programs available to medical plan enrollees through BCBS and UHC. As a further incentive, effective for 2009, non-smokers will pay 10% less for medical plan premiums. The additional premium collected may be used to support funding for expanded wellness programs for Travelers employees.

Definition of Non-Smoker

A non-smoker is defined as someone who has not used tobacco products in the previous six months and does not intend to use tobacco products in the future. Tobacco products are defined as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff. If you and/or your covered spouse or domestic partner have smoked, chewed or in any other manner used tobacco products of any kind during the six month period that precedes and ends on your medical benefit effective date, you will be charged smoker medical premiums that are 10% higher than the non-smoker's premiums.

Non-tobacco User Incentives

Travelers offers a reasonable alternative for employees (and/or covered spouses/domestic partners) to avoid the smoker premium rates upon completion of an approved tobacco cessation program. This applies to covered employees and their spouse/domestic partner for whom it is unreasonably difficult because of a medical condition (such as being addicted to nicotine) or for whom it is medically inadvisable to be tobacco-free under our standard. Travelers has chosen the approved tobacco cessation program, the timeframe within which employees must complete the program, and the manner in which employees must certify their completion of the program. The reasonable alternatives available are the BCBS Blue Print for Health Stop Smoking Program for BCBS Plan enrollees and UHC Optum QuitPower Program for UHC Plan enrollees. These programs are described below.

FAQs on the Incentive Program for Non-Tobacco Users are available here.

Tobacco Cessation Programs

Both the BCBS and UHC programs have two components:

• The first component is a personal coach who can help you develop a personal plan for overcoming your addiction. People who work with a personal coach are five times more likely to quit using tobacco than those who go it alone. The personal coaches are experienced in helping people have the best opportunity for a successful experience and for ultimately achieving a tobacco-free lifestyle.
• The second component is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). NRT can play a significant role in helping you quit using tobacco. Participant's personal coaches will be able to send out up to an eight-week supply of NRT patches, gum or lozenges as appropriate for the individual. NRT is separate from the prescription drug products available through Express Scripts. Medical plan members will also be eligible for up to an annual 90-day supply of prescription drug medications available for tobacco cessation.

Reasonable Alternative Process

Step 1

Enroll in the BCBS or UHC Optum tobacco cessation program within one of the timeframes indicated below. If you are a: Current employee who elected Travelers medical coverage during Annual Benefits Enrollment and enrolled in an approved tobacco cessation program by March 31 of the plan year and completed the program in the plan year. Current employee who experienced a qualified status change event, which resulted in enrollment in one of the Travelers medical plans and who then enrolled in an approved tobacco cessation program within 90 days of the qualified status change event  and completed the program. New hire or rehired employee who enrolled in an approved tobacco cessation program within 90 days after your benefits eligibility date and completed the program.

Step 2

Complete and submit the Reasonable Alternative Certification Form* for yourself and/or your spouse or domestic partner along with the notice from the vendor showing program completion within 31 days of program completion. Once you submit the completed Reasonable Alternative Certification Form and the notice from the vendor showing program completion and it is approved, your premiums will reduce to the non-smoker premiums for the remainder of the calendar year. In addition, the smoker premium difference that was withheld from your paycheck for the portion of the year before you completed the policy’s requirements will be refunded to you in your first available paycheck after your submitted Reasonable Alternative Certification Form is approved.

Enrollment Information

To enroll or learn more about the programs, medical plan participants can call:

> BCBS Blue Print for Health Stop Smoking Program: 888.662.BLUE (2583)
> UHC Optum QuitPower Program: 877.QUIT.PWR (877.784.8797)

* This link is accessible only to employees logged into Travelers secure network.