In your first calendar year of employment, you will be assigned non-tobacco user rates for you and your covered spouse's/domestic partner's coverage even if you declare yourself and/or covered spouse/domestic partner as tobacco users, because you may not have had an opportunity to complete a tobacco cessation course in order to qualify for the lower, non-tobacco user rates. In subsequent years, however, you will be eligible for non-tobacco user rates only if you have been tobacco-free for 12 months (as of January 1) or if you complete a tobacco cessation course, as described in the preceding paragraph.

If you were hired on or after October 1, for the current plan year and in the following plan year, you will be assigned non-tobacco user rates for your and your covered spouse's/domestic partner's coverage even if you declare yourself and/or your covered spouse/domestic partner as a tobacco user, because you may not have had an opportunity to complete a tobacco cessation program in order to qualify for the lower, non-tobacco user rates.

You'll receive more information regarding the opportunity to update your tobacco user status during each annual benefits enrollment period.

For more information on the Tobacco Cessation Program, please go to My Health.