Want to Quit Using Tobacco? Help is Available for Blue Cross Members
Julie Bitely
| 2 min read
It’s not easy, but breaking up with tobacco can drastically improve your health and reduce your risk for tobacco-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 70% of U.S. adult cigarette smokers report they want to quit. If you’re a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or Blue Care Network member and you’ve decided 2020 is your year to give up nicotine for good, we can help. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Tobacco Coaching program, powered by WebMD®, is available to all Blue Cross and BCN members with medical coverage, including individual and Medicare Advantage members. Members who’ve used the program experienced success. And, people who use telephone counseling and support are twice as likely to keep their commitment to quit smoking. Here’s how it works. Tobacco Coaching is a 12-week, over-the-phone coaching program designed to help members quit using tobacco. It includes coaching on all types of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. To be eligible for the program, members must:
- Be ready to set a quit date within the next 30 days
- Have used a tobacco product within the past seven days of their initial call to WebMD
If you decide you’re ready, you’ll receive:
- Five calls from a specially trained health coach over a 12-week period
- Unlimited inbound calls to a health coach
- Online resources, including the Quit Tobacco Digital Health Assistant program
WebMD health coaches are available seven days a week, so it’s easy for you to schedule coaching appointments that work with your schedule. Call 1-855-326-5102 to speak to a health coach and schedule your first coaching call. If you want to quit using tobacco, but aren’t quite ready to set a quit date in the next 30 days, check out our Quit Tobacco Digital Health Assistant program, available through the Blue Cross® Health & Well-Being website when you’ve logged in to bcbsm.com. WebMD Health Services is an independent company that supports Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network by providing health and well-being services. Want more information about improving your health? Read these blogs:
- How Blue Cross Can Help Your Employees Quit a Costly Habit
- Surprising Things Your Health Plan Covers
- Recovery: Help is Available
Photo credit: Orachon Paksuthiphol
