Tobacco Use Surcharge General Information – Amonthly $25-per-account surcharge will be required in addition to the normal monthly premium if an employee or any enrolled family member uses a tobacco product, even if the family member does not live with the employee. Only one $25 surcharge will be collected even if more than one enrolled family member uses tobacco products.
What is and is not tobacco? Tobacco products are defined as any product made with or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product. This includes, but is not limited to cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other tobacco products.
Tobacco products do not include: Tobacco cessation aids approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or E-cigarettes (their tobacco-related status is under review by the FDA).
What is “tobacco use”? Tobacco use is defined as any use of tobacco products within the past two months. It does not include the religious or ceremonial use of tobacco.
What do I need to do? Employees were encouraged to address this in April, but you actually have until May 15 to log on to their Health Care Authority’s “My Account” to answer questions that will determine if they are subject to tobacco-use surcharge. If you do nothing, the surcharge will go into effect.
For more information, visit the WSU HRS webpage at www.hrs.wsu.edu/Surcharges, and the PEBB webage at www.hca.wa.gov/pebb/Pages/surcharge_tobacco.aspx.
