Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare banned smoking earlier this year on its hospital campuses, and now Utah's largest health system plans to impose a $20 monthly surcharge to the health premiums of employees who use tobacco, according to a Salt Lake Tribune report.
The tobacco surcharge goes into effect Jan. 1, 2012, according to the report. It only applies to covered employees, and the surcharge will be based on the honor code. During open enrollment, the health system will ask employees if they use tobacco, and if they answer "yes," an extra $20 per month will be added to their health insurance. In 2013, the charge will be $50 per month.
According to the report, employees who smoke can avoid the surcharge if they enroll in a free tobacco cessation program or if they work with their personal physician to quit the habit.
Intermountain Senior Communications Director Daron Cowley said in the report that the health system believes the surcharge is "in line with its mission of helping [to] encourage healthier communities."
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The tobacco surcharge goes into effect Jan. 1, 2012, according to the report. It only applies to covered employees, and the surcharge will be based on the honor code. During open enrollment, the health system will ask employees if they use tobacco, and if they answer "yes," an extra $20 per month will be added to their health insurance. In 2013, the charge will be $50 per month.
According to the report, employees who smoke can avoid the surcharge if they enroll in a free tobacco cessation program or if they work with their personal physician to quit the habit.
Intermountain Senior Communications Director Daron Cowley said in the report that the health system believes the surcharge is "in line with its mission of helping [to] encourage healthier communities."
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