Snusers with health insurance, do you

[sgreger1]

When you fill out the forms they give you, do you declare yourself as a smoker?


I never have but was wondering if using snus would count as smoking.I just don't want it to come up one day and have them drop me due to "fraud" because they think I lied on my form. It says "smoking" so since it uses a specific type of tobacco I am assuming we are exempt?



Just curious how everyone else is handling this or if snus is even considered "smoking". If it is than I need to stop telling my Dr I snus or trying to educate her on why snusing is better.

[lxskllr]

Unless you're smoking your snus, you're not a smoker. If they don't like that, we can take it to court. I'm confident I'll prevail :^)

[Premium Parrots]

Most insurance forms ask you if you USE tobacco. If you know they are going to do a piss test then you need to be truthfull. If they don't test then its up to you if you want to fib. If it specifically says "do you smoke" then you can put no. When you need to fill out a form for insurance or a job or whatever always try to do it truthfully. However, there are man people that don't smoke, claim they don't on the form, then at a later date start smoking. There is nothing they can do if they find out later except ammend the form and, in the case of health or life insurance your rate will go up.

A long time back I needed new insurance, but I smoked. The health insurance rates were a full 40% more. So I quit for 6 months, contacted the insurance co and they said go get a piss test and if you pass we will lower your rate. So thats what I did. A year later I started smoking cigars for awhile and ulitmately quit smokin altogether. All the while at the non-smokers rate.

The insurance companies are getting smarter now and ask if you USE tobacco. Ya need to be honest then, pay the xtra for 6 months and then contact them etc.

If you tell them you don't use tobacco and you actually do and you lie and get caught they will dump your ass in a heartbeat.

So it all depends upon the type of form you are filling out and how they phrase the question.

Lots-o-luck

[sgreger1]

Just wondering because I always but no since (as I recall) it specifically said do you smoke.

If it said tobacco I would have to say yes but honestly I think that's a bitch move to charge extra for someone who snuses. I am just worried my Dr will rat me out. But so far no piss test. Imagine that, a piss test for tobacco, god this country sometimes..


I noticed in this new healthcare bill it says that the insurance co's can't drop you for pre existing conditions but they can drop you if you are found to use fraud on the forms, then you are really screwed. So I just don't want to be in the wrong.

We need to start a coalition to petition these companies to recognize snus as a healthy alternative and give a discount if you were a smoker but enter the snus cigarette smoking prevention lifestyle 8)

[RedMacGregor]

when i got my life insurance (a rather large policy) they sent someone to take blood/etc.. since i'm not a habitual user, i wasn't worried, and nothing turned up.. if you're concerned, quit using for a week before and it'll be clean.

[sgreger1]

Sweet red. That's what I was hoping. Not sure how long it took for nic to get outta the blood.

[GoVegan]

I told my doctor about using snus and he listed "frequent snuff user" on my medical records. My health insurance is through work though so it doesn't really do anything with my rates. He didn't buy the snus is healthier argument either.

[chainsnuser]

Re: Snusers with health insurance, do you

When you fill out the forms they give you, do you declare yourself as a smoker?

They've never asked, because on the basis of our healthcare system that dates back to 1883 they have no handle no discriminate people. In many regards it were better times back then. There have been several approaches to charge extra fees from smokers and other risky living people, but they never made it into law.

Hopefully Obama creates something similar for the American people.

Cheers!

[sgreger1]

Re: Snusers with health insurance, do you

When you fill out the forms they give you, do you declare yourself as a smoker?

They've never asked, because on the basis of our healthcare system that dates back to 1883 they have no handle no discriminate people. In many regards it were better times back then. There have been several approaches to charge extra fees from smokers and other risky living people, but they never made it into law.

Hopefully Obama creates something similar for the American people.

Cheers!

Well here in America they certainly ask, and they have no problem discriminating against you via higher premiums if you smoke. Then these bastards will wait untill you get cancer one day and say "oops, we found out you smoke, so now we are dropping you due to fraudulent entries on your initial application. Kthxbai"

[spirit72]

If it said tobacco I would have to say yes but honestly I think that's a bitch move to charge extra for someone who snuses.

It is. It's something they do because they can.

[Zanaspus]

Having sold insurance a long time ago in a galaxy far away, I'd advise that you do not misrepresent on an application.

That being said, shop around, I know there are companies that don't charge a premium for cigars and pipes, SNUS must also qualify as non-use for some companies.