Tobacco User Status
Under the JPMorgan Chase Benefits Program, a person who has used any type of tobacco product, smoked or not smoked (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, etc.) regardless of the frequency or location (this includes daily, occasionally, socially, at-home only, etc.) in the 12 months preceding any January 1 is considered a "tobacco user."
Employees and their covered spouses/domestic partners who do not use tobacco products pay less for supplemental term life insurance coverage. Your contribution(s) may be greater if you or your covered spouse/domestic partner was a tobacco user during the prior calendar year. Use of tobacco means use of tobacco in any form including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or smokeless tobacco (dip, chewing). Each year, employees must verify their status as a non-tobacco user or tobacco user, as well as the status of their covered spouse/domestic partner under the applicable Plans.
To be considered a non-tobacco user and pay lower, non-tobacco user rates for a plan year, you and/or your covered spouse/domestic partner must either:
- Be tobacco-free for at least 12 months as of January 1 of that plan year; or
- Complete an approved tobacco cessation program.
If you continue to use tobacco, you will need to complete an approved tobacco cessation course annually to continue to qualify for the lower, non-tobacco user rates. If you and/or your covered spouse/domestic partner meet the definition of a tobacco user but fail to declare your tobacco user status, you may be subject to disciplinary action.