Living tobacco-free is essential to a healthy lifestyle and one of the most important things you can do to improve your overall health. At MaineHealth, we ask all employees electing a medical plan to complete a tobacco attestation during their enrollment within the benefits portal.
What happens if I use tobacco products?
Use of tobacco includes the use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vapor cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff or pipe tobacco, three or more times a week in the past six months.
- If you answer yes or prefer not answer to the tobacco attestation, you will pay a tobacco fee of $46.16 per pay period ($1,200 total per year), in addition to your regular health plan premiums.
- If your tobacco status changes at any time during the year, log into the MaineHealth benefits portal, select “life event,” and update your tobacco use status.
- You must complete five calls in the Quit For Life Program® to be reimbursed for the tobacco fee within the year completed.
MaineHealth requires an accurate tobacco use attestation, any false representation of non-tobacco user status will result in the immediate application of the tobacco fee and may result in deduction of the tobacco fee amount from your pay. Providing false information regarding tobacco use is a violation of the MaineHealth Ethics Policy and could result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
What programs does MaineHealth offer to help me quit?
MaineHealth offers the Quit For Life Program — a free tobacco treatment program available to all MaineHealth employees and their spouse/partners. Once you complete five calls in the Quit For Life Program you are eligible for a tobacco fee reimbursement within the year completed.
You will earn Virgin Pulse points for enrolling in the program and again when you complete sessions with a Quit For Life Coach. You will receive support during the quitting process through personalized emails and texts with this program. Plus, you can use the mobile app to track your progress and stay motivated before and after you quit. Learn more about the Quit For Life app.