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Tobacco Premium

Employees on a Pinellas County medical plan who use tobacco will be charged a $500 tobacco premium beginning April 1, 2025, unless they complete a qualified tobacco cessation program between August 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

The premium does not apply to spouses. Employees who have incurred this premium in 2024 may still complete a qualified course to discontinue future deductions for this year.

Tobacco Cessation Program Options

If you successfully complete a qualified tobacco cessation program such as the free programs listed below, the tobacco premium will no longer apply. To participate in another tobacco cessation option, please contact the Wellness Program before beginning to determine whether it qualifies.

1. Tobacco Free Florida Classes

  • Tobacco Free Florida offers Group Quit, a free support group led by a trained specialist. You need to attend all four one-hour classes in the series. (NOTE: The one-day Tools to Quit classes do not qualify.) For questions, call  (813) 929-1000.
  • You may be eligible to receive free nicotine patches or gum, if medically appropriate.
  • Upcoming virtual classes are listed below.
    • Wednesdays, November 27 – December 18, 2024, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. (register)
  • Upcoming in-person classes are listed below.
    • Public Works, 22211 U.S. 19 N, Building 1, Room A230, Clearwater:
      Wednesdays, January 15 – February 5, 2025, 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. (register)
    • Mosquito Control, 4100 118th Avenue North, Clearwater
      Thursdays, February 13 – March 6, 2025, 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. (register)

2. Cigna Programs

Programs administered by Cigna must be completed by December 31, 2024, as they will no longer be available as of January 1, 2025. Our new medical plan vendor, UMR (UnitedHealthcare), will offer tobacco cessation coaching options in 2025.

  • Phone: To register for Cigna’s one-on-one phone support, call (800) 862-3557 and select option 6.
  • Online: Complete Cigna’s 28-day online Quit Smoking Program:
    • Go to myCigna.com, select the Wellness drop down from the menu at the top right, then click Health Assistant.
    • You’ll be redirected to Cigna’s WebMD Health Services site.
    • Click START A PLAN.
    • Find the Quit Tobacco Plan and click START THIS PLAN.
    • IMPORTANT: The Quit Tobacco Plan is a 12-week WebMD program; however, once you complete 28 days, you will receive credit for completion of Cigna’s Quit Tobacco – 28 Day Program, which will count as successful completion of a tobacco cessation program.

Tobacco Premium FAQs

What is the purpose?

Pinellas County is committed to the health and wellness of its employees. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. The premium helps offset increased health care costs for Pinellas County and offers a financial incentive for employees to quit.

What tobacco products are included?

Cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, dip, snuff, and hookahs.

How would you define a tobacco user?

Someone who has used a tobacco product at least once a week in the past three months.

Does Pinellas County offer resources to help me quit tobacco?

Yes. See Tobacco Cessation Program options above. You can also view Tobacco Cessation Resources.

What if I complete a cessation program but don’t stop using tobacco?

Quitting tobacco is not easy and may require several attempts for success. Employees who successfully complete a qualified program between August 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, are not required to quit tobacco.

What if I quit tobacco but I don’t complete a qualified cessation program?

If you have been tobacco free for 90 days or longer, you may fill out a tobacco attestation form and future deductions will cease. Email the Wellness Program to request the tobacco attestation form.

What if I need nicotine replacement therapy such as gum or patches to quit tobacco?

If you attend a Tobacco Free Florida class, you may be eligible to receive free patches, gum, or lozenges if medically appropriate.

The following FDA-approved tobacco cessation aids are available at no cost through your Cigna benefits with a prescription:

  • Nicotine Gum
  • Nicotine Skin Patches
  • Nicotine Lozenges
  • Nicotine Inhaler (Nicorette® Inhaler)
  • Nicotine Nasal Spray (Nicotrol®)
  • Zyban (Bupropion)
  • Chantix (Varenicline)

Electronic cigarettes are not approved by the FDA for therapeutic use.

How will you know if I use tobacco?

During Annual Enrollment for benefits coverage, each employee attests to their tobacco use in OPUS.

Will you find whether I use tobacco from a biometric screening or random drug test?

No.

How are the tobacco premium funds used?

The tobacco premium funds are applied to the Pinellas County Health Fund which pays for healthcare claims and related expenses.

How can I get more information on the tobacco premium?

Contact Wellness at wellness@pinellas.gov or by phone at (727) 464-3367, option 1.

11/18/24