denmarc
Well-known member
WOW! I never noticed this thread before and just ran across it. I don't know if it will help me, but let me throw my new plight out there and maybe someones insight can convince me to do this.
A couple of months ago, my DW's employer started a new Wellness program associated with her medical benefits. I have been on her insurance for many years due to the fact that her benefits were either equal to, or better than through my employer. It was just easier to do everything through one insurance company. As with many employers trying to accommodate the rising cost of health care and insurance premiums, the Wellness program was implemented. In doing this, a requirement by the insurance company (BCBS) was to answer a battery of questions for them to determine your medical status and lifestyle. If you were to refuse to go through this, you would automatically be put into the higher premium group. I'm thinking extortion at this point.
I accommodated their requirements for pre-enrollment. As a smoker, I am now required to be enrolled in their smoking cessation program. If I were to refuse just the cessation program, I would be in the the higher premium group. Luckily, my BMI is under 30. Otherwise, I would also have to be enrolled in Weight Watchers also! I am almost spitting extortion bullets by now! Who the Hell are they to tell me how to live!!! And then tell me if I don't conform, I will pay more! I understand that question opens up a can of worms that could go on for days. Not my point to make. It's just that after 35+ years of enjoying a cigarette when I want one is suddenly hindered by some jackass on a bi-monthly phone call by my "nurse coach" trying to make me feel better about their attempt to better my life.
This has been going on for a couple of months now. I hate every phone call. I know that smoking is bad for me. I would also like to be able to use the money I spend on cigarettes on something else. But, I am finding it very hard to justify the tactic BCBS is using to make them more profit. And the only reason I am going through all of this by accomodating them is to prevent paying the higher premiums they hold over our heads. I feel helpless. I have been told I can't use the script type prescriptions due to the fact I drive a commercial motor vehicle for a living. Something about the side effects associated with those drugs. Over the counter stuff is expensive as heck, and I was never ready to quit in the first place. I'm having a hard time with this.
I sure as heck don't want to gain back the 35 lbs. I have lost over the past 1 1/2 years by quiting smoking. I don't have a sweet tooth, so snacking on candy instead of lighting up is out of the question. Snacking on anything while driving isn't really a good idea anyway due to the fact I drive at night and need to focus on the road. Not a gum chewer of any sort. Winter is going to take it's toll on my smoking also. Most of the roads I drive at night are country roads. Now that Winter is upon us, while the respective county road commission's plow drivers decide to roll their happy union butts out of bed only about an hour before rush hour, I am out there puffing away trying to do my job all night long as the road conditions get worse until they finish their morning coffee and donuts. Not a good time to try and quit smoking.
Ok. That's my story. Enough said. I still smoke two packs a day. I still tell my nurse coach "Good Luck" with convincing me. I would LOVE to tell them about the extortion aspect of it all. But I don't. I realize they are just doing their job and they don't know me from Adam. I'm still not ready to quit. BUT, I would love to save the money spent on smokes and I know it would only do my good healthwise.
Is there hope for me?
A couple of months ago, my DW's employer started a new Wellness program associated with her medical benefits. I have been on her insurance for many years due to the fact that her benefits were either equal to, or better than through my employer. It was just easier to do everything through one insurance company. As with many employers trying to accommodate the rising cost of health care and insurance premiums, the Wellness program was implemented. In doing this, a requirement by the insurance company (BCBS) was to answer a battery of questions for them to determine your medical status and lifestyle. If you were to refuse to go through this, you would automatically be put into the higher premium group. I'm thinking extortion at this point.
I accommodated their requirements for pre-enrollment. As a smoker, I am now required to be enrolled in their smoking cessation program. If I were to refuse just the cessation program, I would be in the the higher premium group. Luckily, my BMI is under 30. Otherwise, I would also have to be enrolled in Weight Watchers also! I am almost spitting extortion bullets by now! Who the Hell are they to tell me how to live!!! And then tell me if I don't conform, I will pay more! I understand that question opens up a can of worms that could go on for days. Not my point to make. It's just that after 35+ years of enjoying a cigarette when I want one is suddenly hindered by some jackass on a bi-monthly phone call by my "nurse coach" trying to make me feel better about their attempt to better my life.
This has been going on for a couple of months now. I hate every phone call. I know that smoking is bad for me. I would also like to be able to use the money I spend on cigarettes on something else. But, I am finding it very hard to justify the tactic BCBS is using to make them more profit. And the only reason I am going through all of this by accomodating them is to prevent paying the higher premiums they hold over our heads. I feel helpless. I have been told I can't use the script type prescriptions due to the fact I drive a commercial motor vehicle for a living. Something about the side effects associated with those drugs. Over the counter stuff is expensive as heck, and I was never ready to quit in the first place. I'm having a hard time with this.
I sure as heck don't want to gain back the 35 lbs. I have lost over the past 1 1/2 years by quiting smoking. I don't have a sweet tooth, so snacking on candy instead of lighting up is out of the question. Snacking on anything while driving isn't really a good idea anyway due to the fact I drive at night and need to focus on the road. Not a gum chewer of any sort. Winter is going to take it's toll on my smoking also. Most of the roads I drive at night are country roads. Now that Winter is upon us, while the respective county road commission's plow drivers decide to roll their happy union butts out of bed only about an hour before rush hour, I am out there puffing away trying to do my job all night long as the road conditions get worse until they finish their morning coffee and donuts. Not a good time to try and quit smoking.
Ok. That's my story. Enough said. I still smoke two packs a day. I still tell my nurse coach "Good Luck" with convincing me. I would LOVE to tell them about the extortion aspect of it all. But I don't. I realize they are just doing their job and they don't know me from Adam. I'm still not ready to quit. BUT, I would love to save the money spent on smokes and I know it would only do my good healthwise.
Is there hope for me?