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  • Tobacco Policies

    Under state law effective January 1, 2012, tobacco users enrolled in a state health plan will pay higher premiums for their health insurance coverage. If you have any questions, please visit our Q&A on tobacco policies. Even if you don’t use tobacco and don’t cover family members who use tobacco, you must certify your status as a non-tobacco user, as well as the status of any dependents who are enrolled in a state health plan. 

    If you have witnessed someone insured through the GBP, including a dependent, using a tobacco product five or more times within the past three consecutive months, please report this information to ERS.

    No longer using tobacco? If you or any dependent you cover has quit using tobacco, sign in to your account and click the Tobacco User Certification link to certify a change in tobacco use status. 

  • Icon Certify tobacco use

    Use your online account to certify tobacco use by following these steps.

    Icon Tobacco Cessation Q&A

    Common questions about the higher premiums for tobacco users starting January 1, 2012.

    Icon Physician’s Affidavit Form
    Complete this form if you are diagnosed by a physician as having a health factor that prevents you from discontinuing the use of Tobacco Products.
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  • Tobacco User Premium

     If you or a covered family member uses tobacco, you must certify as a tobacco user. You will pay $30, $60, or $90 more each month in additional health insurance premiums, depending on how many tobacco users you cover. 

    Tobacco users  Monthly fee 
    Member only $30
    Spouse only $30
    Child* only $30
    Member + spouse $60
    Member + child* $60
    Spouse + child* $60
    Member + spouse + child* (Family) $90
    *The charge for a child is the same regardless of how many children in the household use tobacco. 

    Physician's statement on tobacco use

    If you need to send ERS a physician’s statement or affidavit stating that you (or your dependent) cannot stop using tobacco products, the information in that statement or affidavit is considered Protected Health Information (PHI) and you should not give it to your benefits coordinator to send to ERS for you. You can fax, mail, send via overnight delivery, or deliver the statement or affidavit to ERS in person.

    • Fax: Write “Tobacco Cessation Program” on the fax cover sheet and fax to the number on the form.
    • Mail: ERS, Attention Tobacco Cessation Program, P.O. Box 13207, Austin, TX 78711-3207
    • Overnight Delivery: ERS, 200 E 18th Street, Austin, TX 78701
    • In person: There is a secure drop box on the left side of the front door that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Quit tobacco image

  • Free services to help you quit tobacco

    You can get help to quit tobacco so you don’t have to pay more for health insurance. HealthSelect and the HMOs that participate in the State of Texas health plan offer tobacco cessation programs:

    Certain prescription tobacco cessation drugs—Zyban, its generic Bupropion, and Chantix—are now covered.

    Benefits of quitting

     If you quit using tobacco, you will:

    • Improve your health;
    • Benefit from not having to pay the higher tobacco premium fee; and
    • Save money previously spent on tobacco products.