Reaching tobacco users through health insurance plan policy changes

Audience:

Health Departments, Health Insurance Organizations, Policymakers, Evaluators

 

Key Points:

The North Carolina General Assembly required the State’s Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees (SHP) to develop and implement a Comprehensive Wellness Initiative (CWI) focusing specifically on tobacco cessation and weight management.  An evaluation of the tobacco cessation component of the CWI was conducted with SHP members who use tobacco and called QuitlineNC, a free telephone-based cessation coaching service. Results from a web-based satisfaction survey of SHP members indicate that although members’ motivation to call QuitlineNC was primarily to maintain their enrollment on the premium health insurance plan, satisfaction with QuitlineNC service delivery was very high. Participants that received Nicotine Replacement Therapy reported a high level of satisfaction with services regardless of whether they made a successful quit attempt. Unfortunately, awareness and utilization of tobacco cessation benefits other than QuitlineNC to SHP tobacco users remains relatively low.

 

Educational Experience:

We provide background information on the tobacco cessation component of the CWI implemented by the SHP.  The presenter then facilitates a group discussion on how to successfully promote health insurance policy changes and how to increase awareness of tobacco cessation benefits offered to health insurance plan membership.

 

Benefits:

This presentation explores the potential impact that health insurance organization polices have on members’ health behaviors. These finding suggest an opportunity for implementing new strategies to reach tobacco users.