Tobacco use surcharge

What is the tobacco use premium surcharge?

You will be charged a $25 tobacco use premium surcharge in addition to your monthly medical plan premium if you or any dependent (age 13 and older) who is enrolled on your SEBB medical coverage uses a tobacco product.

You do not have to pay this surcharge if you attest that:

• Neither you nor any of your enrolled dependents age 13 and older use tobacco products.
• You and all your dependents who are tobacco users age 18 and older are enrolled in your medical plan’s tobacco cessation program. Tobacco users age 13 to 17 are considered enrolled in a tobacco cessation program if they access information and resources in Smokefree Teen.

Enrolled dependents age 12 and younger are automatically defaulted as nontobacco users.

If your situation changes, you can later attest to the change. If you attest that you and your dependents have stopped using tobacco, your premium surcharge will be dropped.

What is tobacco use?

Tobacco use is defined as any use of tobacco products within the past two months except for religious or ceremonial use.

What are tobacco products?

Tobacco products are any product made with or derived from tobacco that is intended for human consumption, including any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product. This includes, but is not limited to, cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, and other tobacco products. Tobacco products do not include e-cigarettes or United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved quit aids such as over-the-counter nicotine replacement products and prescription nicotine replacement products.

How do I attest?

Sign in to Benefits 24/7 and select the Attestations tab. Select Yes or No for each individual listed.

What happens if I do not attest?

You will be charged the $25-per-account premium surcharge, in addition to your medical plan premium.

How do I report a change?

Use one of the following options to report a change to your previous attestations:

• Benefits 24/7
• Submit the SEBB Premium Surcharge Attestation Change form. 

When can I report a change?

You can report a change any time you or any enrolled dependents you reported as using tobacco products do any of the following:

• Stop using tobacco products for at least two months.
• Enroll in your SEBB medical plan’s tobacco cessation program (for ages 18 and older).
• Access the information and resources in Smokefree Teen (for ages 13-17).

You must also report a change if you or any enrolled dependent age 13 or older starts using a tobacco product, or stops participating in your SEBB medical plan’s tobacco cessation program.

When will my change take effect?

Changes that result in a premium surcharge will begin the first day of the month following the status change (the date the dependent started using tobacco products). If that day is the first of the month, the change to the surcharge begins on that day.

Changes that result in removing a premium surcharge will begin the first day of the month after receipt of the attestation. If that day is the first of the month, the change to the surcharge begins on that day.