Fazen: Helping Texans quit smoking is good business
January 7, 2008 @ 12:00 AM
On Jan. 1, millions of Texans resolved to finally stop smoking. But unfortunately for most, they won't even make it through the month before they light up again. A recent survey of Texas smokers conducted by the Texas Coalition for Worksite Wellness showed that Lone Star State residents need more tools to help them successfully beat this deadly addiction.
The good news from the TCWW survey is that seven in 10 smokers have tried -- most more than once -- to stop smoking. Not surprisingly, most have tried the old-fashioned method: cold turkey. But cold turkey is best reserved for post-holiday lunches and should not be viewed as the best way to take on this very strong addiction.
In our survey, Texas smokers agreed that they need more tools to help them quit for good. Sixty percent of employed smokers said using their health insurance for FDA-approved treatment options would make them more likely to successfully quit smoking.
Unfortunately, most Texas smokers don't have access to these treatment options.
According to our survey, 63 percent of Texas smokers covered by employer-sponsored health insurance said they do not have insurance benefits to help cover the costs of over-the-counter smoking cessation products or to cover the costs of cessation counseling. More than half -- 54 percent -- said they do not have access to benefits to help cover the costs of prescription smoking cessation medications.
We all know that cigarette addiction is real. We also are well aware of the risks associated with smoking, such as lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, emphysema, and liver and kidney disease.
What is staggering, however, is the cost of the addiction, not only to smokers' health and pocketbooks but to employers.
A 1999 study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that each smoker on the payroll cost a company $3,383: approximately $1,623 in excess medical expenses plus $1,760 in health-related productivity losses. In today's dollars, cigarette use leads to more than $167 billion in direct healthcare costs each year in the U.S.
Employers understand the costs associated with this addiction. A recent nationwide survey of employers conducted by the National Business Group on Health showed that 96 percent of employers surveyed believe that a smoking cessation benefit would be beneficial. Yet only 2 percent of those surveyed provide that coverage.
For too long, we've treated people only when they are sick or after they develop costly, debilitating, chronic conditions. It's time to change our focus. FDA-approved cessation treatments have been shown to be cost-effective tools to manage healthcare expenditures and improve health outcomes.
Every dollar invested in work-site health promotion yields an estimated $3.50 to nearly $6 in savings through reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and decreased healthcare-related costs.
It doesn't make sense that 95 cents of every healthcare dollar today is spent to treat diseases rather than prevent them, and according to the CDC, smoking cessation treatment is one of the most cost-effective health insurance benefits available.
I hope that Texas companies consider that increasing preventive benefits, such as counseling and access to all FDA-approved cessation treatment, will save them money in the long run, especially when so many Texans surveyed would find these tools helpful in quitting once and for all.
Let's give our employees the necessary tools to continue to fight this deadly addiction and make their New Year's resolution one they can keep.
The good news from the TCWW survey is that seven in 10 smokers have tried -- most more than once -- to stop smoking. Not surprisingly, most have tried the old-fashioned method: cold turkey. But cold turkey is best reserved for post-holiday lunches and should not be viewed as the best way to take on this very strong addiction.
In our survey, Texas smokers agreed that they need more tools to help them quit for good. Sixty percent of employed smokers said using their health insurance for FDA-approved treatment options would make them more likely to successfully quit smoking.
Unfortunately, most Texas smokers don't have access to these treatment options.
According to our survey, 63 percent of Texas smokers covered by employer-sponsored health insurance said they do not have insurance benefits to help cover the costs of over-the-counter smoking cessation products or to cover the costs of cessation counseling. More than half -- 54 percent -- said they do not have access to benefits to help cover the costs of prescription smoking cessation medications.
We all know that cigarette addiction is real. We also are well aware of the risks associated with smoking, such as lung cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, emphysema, and liver and kidney disease.
What is staggering, however, is the cost of the addiction, not only to smokers' health and pocketbooks but to employers.
A 1999 study conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that each smoker on the payroll cost a company $3,383: approximately $1,623 in excess medical expenses plus $1,760 in health-related productivity losses. In today's dollars, cigarette use leads to more than $167 billion in direct healthcare costs each year in the U.S.
Employers understand the costs associated with this addiction. A recent nationwide survey of employers conducted by the National Business Group on Health showed that 96 percent of employers surveyed believe that a smoking cessation benefit would be beneficial. Yet only 2 percent of those surveyed provide that coverage.
For too long, we've treated people only when they are sick or after they develop costly, debilitating, chronic conditions. It's time to change our focus. FDA-approved cessation treatments have been shown to be cost-effective tools to manage healthcare expenditures and improve health outcomes.
Every dollar invested in work-site health promotion yields an estimated $3.50 to nearly $6 in savings through reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and decreased healthcare-related costs.
It doesn't make sense that 95 cents of every healthcare dollar today is spent to treat diseases rather than prevent them, and according to the CDC, smoking cessation treatment is one of the most cost-effective health insurance benefits available.
I hope that Texas companies consider that increasing preventive benefits, such as counseling and access to all FDA-approved cessation treatment, will save them money in the long run, especially when so many Texans surveyed would find these tools helpful in quitting once and for all.
Let's give our employees the necessary tools to continue to fight this deadly addiction and make their New Year's resolution one they can keep.