If there is any good news at all for smokers, it"s that it appears it is never too late to quit. Medicare has agreed to help senior smokers quit and cover counselling costs for those who smoke — regardless of health status.
Even though many people have quit smoking over the years there are still millions that do, including seniors. Medicare has been paying seniors" counselling costs for those who are already sick since 2005. Now the organization will cover four private sessions of counselling for any senior who wants to quit.
It is estimated that smoking-related illnesses cost the American economy almost $100 billion a year in lost productivity, and about $96 billion annually for health care costs. Experts feel that counseling and smoking-prevention medication and devices are some of the best ways to cut down on diseases and illness.
According to The Fiscal Times, over 88 percent of health insurance plans on the private sector offer smoking cessation programs and many employers have decided to offer the programs.
Oklahoma cut down on its health costs after introducing a free counseling system for state workers who smoke. The program reimburses employees for over-the-counter and prescription drugs and offers a personal counsellor via a toll-free phone number.
Oklahoma said about 1,150 state employees have quit smoking and saved taxpayers approximately $4.4 million each year since 2008 in smoking-related health costs. The program costs $930,000 to run each year, so the state has seen a 373 percent return on its investment.
Offering these programs is a great way to lower Medicare and health insurance costs.