How long does one have to quit smoking to say non-smoker when applying for insurance?

[arely staircase]

Do policies define it?

[Warpy]

1. It probably varies by the policy

and contacting the company for their policy might be the best idea.

Congratulations! I know kicking the damned things is very hard to do.

[arely staircase]

3. it has been almost two years for me now

I have had my policy for.about four years now. I marked yes on do you smoke. I wonder if I can get a lower rate.

[Warpy]

7. That qualifies you on any health history as a "remote smoker."

I think you can probably claim it on most of them.

[arely staircase]

8. good band name, that

Remote Smoker

[devils chaplain]

17. I thought it was the code name for our drone program. n/t

[Auggie]

2. I'd wait a day

[arely staircase]

4. right? nt

[Auggie]

6. Yes. Don't even mention it.

[Revanchist]

5. Figure on at least a year.

But if your close to that, it would be difficult to check since your lungs recover in 1-9 months after quitting and there will not be any nicotine in your bloodstream.

Some companies consider you to be a smoker if you are using a nicotine replacement program (patches, gum) or e-ciggs (which I find to be unfair) so you need to check into that also. You might be able to still qualify if you're on a smoking cessation program that was prescribed by a physician, but not with the over the counter stuff and no medical paperwork to back it up.

[arely staircase]

12. ah I still use the vaporizor from time to time

But rarely enough that I could go without long enough to pass a blood test. Havent smoked an analog cig in 22 months. I hit the vaporizor if I am out drinking and the old judgement and will lower are diminished. So I only do it 2 or 3 times a month.

[Revanchist]

14. You sound like a light user so you may be okay, but it can stay in your system for awhile.

How Long Does Nicotine Stay in your System The length of time that nicotine stays in the body and cotinine can be a reliable indicator of nicotine use depends on the amount of tobacco smoked, the number of years smoking tobacco, and the type of nicotine test performed. It can be as short as 2 days, or as long as 3 months. - See more at: http://www.ihealthblogger.com/2013/05/how-long-does-nicotine-stay-in-your-system.html#sthash.7iTqUPCE.dpuf

http://www.ihealthblogger.com/2013/05/how-long-does-nicotine-stay-in-your-system.html

[Nye Bevan]

9. "Tobacco use" is defined as.....

Tobacco use is the use of any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, and pipe tobacco, four or more times a week within the past 6 months. (Religious or ceremonial use of tobacco is allowed, such as by Alaska natives or Native Americans).

[Kaleva]

10. 12 months seems to be the norm.

[OKNancy]

11. One year and it usually is not just smoking but "tobacco products"

I wonder if e-cigs count???

[meow2u3]

16. I was wondering the same thing

I recently switched from smokes to e-cigs. Have not had a smoke in the past 5 days.

In other words, is it "tobacco products" or nicotine?

[pipi_k]

13. So I went searching for an answer

and saw something in an online group that made perfect sense to me...

August 10, 2012 11:21 am

There was a day maybe 6 months after I quit (cold turkey, no less) where the odds were stacked against me.
1. It had been a horribly stressful day (smoking was a good anti-stress agent for me)
2. I was hanging out with some friends who did smoke (I wouldn't even have to buy a pack to bum one off a friend)
3. We were having some beers (nothing better than a smoke when you're drinking, right?)

And, despite all this, I didn't have a cigarette.

That was the day I considered myself a non-smoker!

I say it makes sense because being a "non smoker" according to some insurance company's definition might not work for everyone.

[krawhitham]

15. 6 months

http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20130716/how-affordable-care-act-affects-smokers

What is ''tobacco use,'' and how is a smoker or tobacco user defined?

Tobacco use is the use of any tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, and pipe tobacco, four or more times a week within the past 6 months. (Religious or ceremonial use of tobacco is allowed, such as by Alaska natives or Native Americans). It's an honor system.

http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20130716/how-affordable-care-act-affects-smokers

[Revanchist]

18. Insurance companies usually have a stricter critera

For example most count E-ciggs as tobacco use as well as nicotine gums and patches because "They contain tobacco, or nicotine, which is derived from tobacco". Never mind that nicotine can be found in eggplant and tomatoes, who knows more studies over time may change this outlook.

[krawhitham]

19. Here is the exact wording

http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Files/Downloads/market-rules-technical-summary-2-27-2013.pdf

b. Tobacco Use

The final rule allows rates to vary by no more than 1.5:1 for tobacco users. State law can prescribe a narrower ratio or prohibit varying rates for tobacco use. States that use narrower ratios for 2014 must submit relevant information to CMS no later than March 29, 2013. Health insurance issuers may use a lower tobacco use factor for a younger person than an older person as long as the factor does not exceed 1.5:1 for any age group. States or issuers will have the flexibility to determine the appropriate tobacco rating factor within 1:1 to 1.5:1, consistent with the wellness program requirements. In addition, issuers in the small group market may implement the tobacco rating factor (as described in section 2705 of the PHS Act) for employees only as part of a wellness program. Issuers in the individual market may implement the tobacco use surcharge without offering wellness programs.

Under the final rule, “tobacco use” is defined as the use of a tobacco product or products four or more times per week within no longer than the past 6 months by legal users of tobacco products (generally those 18 years and older) and includes all tobacco products. The rule clarifies that the term tobacco use does not include religious or ceremonial uses of tobacco (for example, by American Indians and Alaska Natives). Tobacco use must be defined by issuers in terms of the time since the individual’s last use of a tobacco product.

http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Files/Downloads/market-rules-technical-summary-2-27-2013.pdf