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Uncovering the high cost of smokers Expenses incurred for employees who smoke may include: Higher average insurance payments ($1145 vs $762)¹ Increased hospital days per 1000 employees (800 vs 381)¹ More health-related absenteeism (6.7 days/year vs 4.4 days/year)² Lost productivity time—up to 4 weeks per year (8% of total work time, in addition to regular breaks)³     1-800-QUIT-NOW for local information To request state-specific information regarding smoking cessation, call the national quit line (1-800-QUIT-NOW) and get routed directly to your state’s local quit line. Access the following links for more information on smoking cessation benefits: America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Making the Business Case for Smoking Cessation: ROI Calculator. This Web-based return-on-investment calculator developed by the Center for Health Research (Kaiser Permanente Northwest) and AHIP estimates the impact of smoking cessation interventions for 1 to 5 years. A Purchaser’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science Into Coverage is a comprehensive resource on preventive services developed by the NBGH in collaboration with the CDC. See chapter 3 for a section featuring tobacco use treatment—"Evidence-Statement: Tobacco Use Treatment (Screening, Counseling, and Treatment)." Resources for Worksite/Community is a comprehensive list of resources provided by the American Cancer Society. TOBACCO: THE BUSINESS OF QUITTING, an Employer's Website for Tobacco Cessation. Sponsored by the NBGH, this extensive Web site equips employers with tools and information to implement effective tobacco cessation benefits, programs, and policies within the workplace. 1. Penner M, Penner S. Excess insured health care costs from tobacco-using employees in a large group plan. J Occup Med. 1990;32(6):521-523. 2. Bunn WB III, Stave GM, Downs KE, Alvir JM, Dirani R. Effect of smoking status on productivity loss. J Occup Environ Med. 2006;48(10):1099-1108. 3. Lesmes GR. Corporate healthcare costs and smoke-free environments. Am J Med. 1992;93(suppl 1A):48S-54S.

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