New Tobacco Cessation Benefits for Non-Medicare Members

As part of our commitment to better health, HealthChoice is focusing on tobacco cessation because tobacco is responsible for so many health conditions, including cancer and lung and heart disease. We are encouraging all non-Medicare health plan members* and covered dependents to quit tobacco now. By quitting tobacco, members can improve their health and take advantage of deductible credits that will be available in Plan Year 2012.

Effective July 1, 2010, HealthChoice reduced the copay for certain prescription tobacco cessation products to $5 per fill which will save members about $150 each year. Covered products include:

• Buproban 150mg SA Tabs
• Nicotrol 10mg Cartridge
• Bupropion HCL SR 150mg Tabs
• Nicotrol NS 20mg/m Nasal Spray
• Chantix 0.5mg and 1mg Tabs

HealthChoice will continue to cover two 90-day courses of a prescription product each plan year.

HealthChoice has also partnered with the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and Free and Clear to provide members with over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy products (patches, gum, and lozenges) and telephone coaching. Members can receive up to 12 weeks of an over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy product and up to five one-on-one telephone counseling sessions with a trained Quit Coach. The OTC products and coaching services are available at no charge to health plan members. To take advantage of the benefits available through TSET, which are over and above the benefits offered to the general public, contact the OKLAHOMA TOBACCO HELPLINE at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and identify yourself as a HealthChoice member. The Helpline hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Members living outside of Oklahoma call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (1-866-784-8454).

Since studies have shown that a combination of medication and counseling is by far the MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO SUCCESSFULLY QUIT TOBACCO, HealthChoice members are encouraged to take advantage of the coaching and support provided by the Quit Coaches.

HealthChoice hopes these enhanced benefits will encourage members to quit tobacco, improve their health, and take advantage of the deductible credit coming in 2012.

*The tobacco cessation benefits described above will be available to HealthChoice Medicare Supplement Plan members effective January 1, 2011; however, HealthChoice cannot offer a deductible credit to these members.