TOBACCO-FREE WORKPLACE

Pitkin County provides an opportunity for employees to save on health insurance premiums by completing the Employee Health and Well-Being Program (November 1, 2022 - October 13th, 2023). This program is voluntary. However, to earn the 2024 Health Insurance Premium Discount / Wellness Rate, employees and their covered legal spouse/partners must attest to being tobacco-free, or complete a Tobacco-Free Success Plan as part of the Employee Health & Well-Being Program. Even though you do not have to be tobacco-free to earn the Premium Discount,  you do need to engage in a Tobacco-Free Success Plan.  

a. Complete the Tobacco Use Attestation form.

b. Attest to whether you are a tobacco user; indicate yes/no.

c. If you are a tobacco user, please complete a Tobacco-Free Success Plan. There are several  options listed below. You are supported in a journey to quit. 

It is important to understand how to use your health insurance benefits and coverage to address your quitting needs. 

Express Scripts (administered by RxBenefits, Inc) Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Prescription Medications 

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Prescription Medications for quitting are covered at 100% by Pitkin’s health insurance prescription plan through Express Scripts administered by RxBenefits.  NRT (gum, lozenges, patches, inhalers, and sprays) can help you quit. Pitkin’s health insurance plan covers certain NRT at 100%. No copay, no deductible. NRT covered: Nicotrol (inhaler), Nicoderm CQ (nicotine patches), Nicorette (nicotine gum and lozenges). For all insured employees and dependents on Pitkin County’s health insurance. Get a prescription from your healthcare provider. Even though NRT is over the counter, your health insurance can only reimburse for it if you get it with a prescription.

There are other prescription medications that help prevent tobacco use, and help you quit. Pitkin’s health insurance plan covers certain medications at 100%. No copay, no deductible. Prescriptions covered: Chantix and Zyban (bupropion SR 150mg). For all insured employees and dependents on Pitkin County’s health insurance. Get a prescription from your healthcare provider. 

Primary Care Provider (PCP) Preventive Care Wellness Visit 

Talk to your PCP about quitting, and to get your prescriptions covered 100%. The visit will only be considered a “preventive care visit” and be covered at 100% if the visit is only to talk about tobacco cessation, and other preventive care. Be sure to check with your health care provider if you are being charged for anything else if that is a concern to you.

HSA (Health Savings Account) 

Remember that HSA $ covers acupuncture. Adequate acupuncture treatment may help motivated tobacco users reduce their usage, and/or even quit completely. HSA $ can also be used for medical program expenses to stop smoking. However, drugs that you purchased without a prescription, such as nicotine gum or patches, can not be reimbursed despite the fact that they are designed to help stop smoking.  Remember, you can get these non-prescriptive tools free through the QuitLine. 

Triad EAP (Employee Assistance Program) 

Are some stressors in your life preventing you from even thinking about quitting? Triad EAP is a confidential counseling and referral service available that can help employees, spouses, and dependents. You get 8 free sessions per incident per year. Contact EAP for your pre-authorization to the counselor you choose: 877-679-1100 or 970-242-9536. Counselors can be found on-line at www.triadeap.com (Username: pitkin Password:county)       

Many forms of tobacco cessation support, including therapies, groups and other techniques may be reimbursed by Pitkin County’s Employee Health &  Well-Being Program. If you quit tobacco, submit proof of program completion, and receipt of payment to Pitkin’s Employee Health & Well-Being Program, you may get reimbursed. 

Contact hr@pitkincounty.com to be 100% sure your preferred cessation method is covered before signing up to ensure reimbursement.                

Apps & Text Programs

There are lots of apps to help you quit, some even have online communities, people who are in it with you. 

Smokefree.gov - Offers different tools to help you quit , and helps you build your own personal quit plan. Try a smartphone app or text message program that provides on demand 24/7 help, and offers LiveHelp.

Smokefree has sites tailored towards different groups:  Smokefree Espanol, Smokefree Teen, Smokefree Vet, Smokefree Women, and Smokefree 60+.

Truth Initiative This is Quitting - The first-of-its-kind program to help young people quit vaping with additional resources available for parents of young vapers and for adults who want to quit. Teens and young adults can join for free by texting DITCHVAPE to 88709 and receive daily text messages to build confidence and learn skills to quit vaping. This is Quitting is a free and anonymous text messaging program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people quit vaping. The first-of-its-kind quit program incorporates messages from other young people like them who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes.  The messages show the real side of quitting, both the good and the bad, to help young people feel motivated, inspired and supported throughout their quitting process. We also send young people evidence-based tips and strategies to quit and stay quit.  This is Quitting is tailored based on age (within 13 to 24 years old) and product usage to give teens and young adults appropriate recommendations about quitting. 

Education & More Support

American Cancer Society has comprehensive “How to Quit Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco” educational resources.

Tobacco Free CO has resources for adults designed to help you understand the ins and outs of vaping and then confidently talk with teens about it. If you have kids, or work with them, you have probably heard a lot of buzz about vaping, the latest trend in tobacco products. As a parent or trusted adult, it can be hard to advise teens about vaping if you do not know much about it. Sometimes it may seem like we are learning about vaping from teens themselves, but we know they may not have the most reliable information. And the Internet? Well, it has a lot of promotions for vaping that you should approach skeptically.