Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment
Introduction Uncertainty about levels of employee use of an insurance benefit for smoking-cessation treatment has presented a barrier to employers considering the adoption of such coverage. This study examined self-reported awareness and use of a new insurance benefit for smoking-cessation treatment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2005-09-01
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| Series: | Preventing Chronic Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/oct/05_0007.htm |
| _version_ | 1797423443927367680 |
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| author | Marguerite E. Burns, MA Marjorie A. Rosenberg, PhD Michael C. Fiore, MD, MPH |
| author_facet | Marguerite E. Burns, MA Marjorie A. Rosenberg, PhD Michael C. Fiore, MD, MPH |
| author_sort | Marguerite E. Burns, MA |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Uncertainty about levels of employee use of an insurance benefit for smoking-cessation treatment has presented a barrier to employers considering the adoption of such coverage. This study examined self-reported awareness and use of a new insurance benefit for smoking-cessation treatment among a sample of Wisconsin state employees, retirees, and adult dependents. Methods We evaluated the self-reported use of insurance coverage for smoking-cessation treatment during the first 2 years of its availability to the Wisconsin state employee, retiree, and adult dependent population. We conducted analyses of responses to smoking-related questions in 2001 and 2002 cross-sectional surveys of insured state employees, retirees, and adult dependents, weighted to represent this population. Results In 2002, benefit use among smokers aware of the benefit was 39.6%, and benefit use among smokers unaware of the benefit was 3.5%. Only 27.4% of smokers were aware of the benefit in 2002; use among all smokers was 13.6%. Of all smokers, 30.4% used smoking-cessation treatment medication (over-the-counter or covered) in 2002. Smoking prevalence was 15.6% in 2001 and 13.2% in 2002. Conclusion In an educated employee population, self-reported smoking-cessation treatment benefit use was modest among all smokers during its first 2 years of availability. Benefit awareness was low in this educated population, which may help explain low use rates, particularly given the 30% of all smokers who attempted to quit smoking with the help of smoking-cessation treatment medication. These data provide use-rate estimates for states contemplating adoption of an evidence-based smoking-cessation treatment benefit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:48:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6cea422caa5416fa66ae5d644fb56a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1545-1151 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:48:05Z |
| publishDate | 2005-09-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Preventing Chronic Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6cea422caa5416fa66ae5d644fb56a92023-12-03T02:48:26ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionPreventing Chronic Disease1545-11512005-09-0124Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation TreatmentMarguerite E. Burns, MAMarjorie A. Rosenberg, PhDMichael C. Fiore, MD, MPHIntroduction Uncertainty about levels of employee use of an insurance benefit for smoking-cessation treatment has presented a barrier to employers considering the adoption of such coverage. This study examined self-reported awareness and use of a new insurance benefit for smoking-cessation treatment among a sample of Wisconsin state employees, retirees, and adult dependents. Methods We evaluated the self-reported use of insurance coverage for smoking-cessation treatment during the first 2 years of its availability to the Wisconsin state employee, retiree, and adult dependent population. We conducted analyses of responses to smoking-related questions in 2001 and 2002 cross-sectional surveys of insured state employees, retirees, and adult dependents, weighted to represent this population. Results In 2002, benefit use among smokers aware of the benefit was 39.6%, and benefit use among smokers unaware of the benefit was 3.5%. Only 27.4% of smokers were aware of the benefit in 2002; use among all smokers was 13.6%. Of all smokers, 30.4% used smoking-cessation treatment medication (over-the-counter or covered) in 2002. Smoking prevalence was 15.6% in 2001 and 13.2% in 2002. Conclusion In an educated employee population, self-reported smoking-cessation treatment benefit use was modest among all smokers during its first 2 years of availability. Benefit awareness was low in this educated population, which may help explain low use rates, particularly given the 30% of all smokers who attempted to quit smoking with the help of smoking-cessation treatment medication. These data provide use-rate estimates for states contemplating adoption of an evidence-based smoking-cessation treatment benefit.http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/oct/05_0007.htmpublic healthchronic diseasepreventioninsurance benefitsmoking-cessation |
| spellingShingle | Marguerite E. Burns, MA Marjorie A. Rosenberg, PhD Michael C. Fiore, MD, MPH Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment Preventing Chronic Disease public health chronic disease prevention insurance benefit smoking-cessation |
| title | Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment |
| title_full | Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment |
| title_short | Use of a New Comprehensive Insurance Benefit for Smoking-Cessation Treatment |
| title_sort | use of a new comprehensive insurance benefit for smoking cessation treatment |
| topic | public health chronic disease prevention insurance benefit smoking-cessation |
| url | http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/oct/05_0007.htm |
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