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The cost of smoking

recession19085238.jpgThe Center for Disease Control (CDC) published a study done on smoking. It found that 85 percent of employers would like to implement a smoking cessation program to improve their healthcare costs. Smokers have been hearing about the bad part of smoking for years, yet many of them continue to purchase the "cancer stick". This is because smoking is an addiction and a lifestyle choice. Some people smoke because they need to smoke to be socially accepted. Others smoke because they have been doing it for so long that they wouldn't know what to do if they weren't smoking.

Smokers place the entire company into a higher risk pool, which has higher insurance rates. It is not fair for the employees that do not smoke, that are in good health to pay the same amount of money as the employees that are causing the health insurance costs to increase. This is forcing employers to start charging smokers an extra $30 or more each paycheck to offset the higher healthcare costs.

People that smoke have a shorter life expectancy, by at least 7 years. One in five deaths is caused by smoking a cigarette. Sadly family members often die before a smoker because the breathed in all the second-hand smoking which is almost more dangerous than smoking itself.

Smokers are twice as likely to visit the doctor with medical conditions. Many of them experience shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and lung disease. Eventually most smokers will develop lung cancer or throat cancer.

Employers have the right to decline employment to people that smoke. Other companies can fire an employee if they are caught smoking and it clearly states in the company policy that smoking is not permitted by employees. The reason why so many businesses are against smokers is not only because of the health insurance costs, but also because smokers take about 8 more sick days annually from healthy employees that do not smoke. The cost of sick leave alone will cause an employer to lose thousands of dollars on lost production costs and wages.

Want more statistics about smoking? Here are a few more:

  • Smokers pay more money for life insurance. A smoker is considered a "high-risk" by all insurance companies. Their decision to smoke is completely controllable and many insurance companies will charge them higher rates because of it. This is because smokers are at an increased risk of dying younger.

  • Smokers also pay more money for home insurance. When you have a smoker living in the home, your rate of having a house fire automatically triple. Home insurance companies don't want to lose all of their money if you accidently set your home on fire so they can charge you higher rates for being a smoker.

  • Don't forget about your auto insurance rates. Similar to health, life, and home owners insurance, auto insurance companies also view smokers as a risk and they will charge higher premiums. This is because smoking is considered a distraction while driving and your risk of getting in an auto accident almost triple if you are a smoker.


When you add it all up, the cost of smoking is pretty high. Since smoking is controllable, it makes sense for your financial health to quit smoking as soon as possible. Speak to your employer about quitting smoking; they can help you along your path. Many employers will pay for smoking awareness classes and support groups that can help their employees quit smoking. If you are paying higher costs for any type of insurance, contact them and let them know you have quit smoking. After a year or longer, most of them will reduce your rates and help you save money again.

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