If you and your covered spouse use tobacco,* you can qualify to have the tobacco surcharge removed by enrolling in the EX Program at BecomeAnEX.org/signup/McLeodHealth and completing all required steps. Or you may be able to enroll in another tobacco cessation program available through McLeod Healthier You by calling 843-777-5191. You may also qualify for access to free lung cancer screenings with our Healthy Lungs Initiative. These programs are available at no cost to you!
- For new hires/newly benefit-eligible: you must complete the program within four months of your benefits eligibility date.
- For all benefit-eligible employees (after first four months of eligibility):
- You must successfully complete the tobacco cessation program between Jan. 1–April 30 of the plan year to be eligible for have tobacco surcharges refunded for that plan year.
- If you complete the tobacco cessation program between
May 1–Dec. 31 and you are not a new hire/newly benefit-eligible, you are eligible for the surcharge to be removed going forward as soon as administratively possible.
*What are tobacco products?
For purposes of surcharges, tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, vape, all forms of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, dip, or any other product that contains tobacco), clove cigarettes and any other smoking devices that use tobacco, such as hookahs.
