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Tobacco user certification starts November 7
Beginning November 7 and continuing through December 9,
employees and retirees enrolled in the Employees Retirement
System of Texas (ERS) health plan who use tobacco or have a
covered family member who uses tobacco must sign in to their
accounts at
www.ers.state.tx.us or call
(866) 399-6908 toll-free to certify tobacco use.
Individuals who don�t use tobacco and who don�t cover family
members using tobacco don�t have to do anything; their premiums
won�t increase. Individuals who are not enrolled in the ERS
health plan don�t have to do anything.
Starting January 1, 2012, under state law, tobacco users in the
ERS health plan will pay higher premiums for their health
insurance coverage. The ERS website includes
more information, such as the
definition of a tobacco user and a list of products that will be
considered tobacco.
Employees and retirees can get help to quit tobacco so they
don�t have to pay more for health insurance. Certain
prescription tobacco cessation drugs�Zyban, its generic
Bupropion, and Chantix�are
now covered.
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