Law Meant to Help Smokers Kick Habit

WSIL-- Quitting smoking can be difficult-- physically and financially.

But a new Illinois law offers smokers more help to kick the habit.

That new law, signed by the governor Monday, requires insurance companies to cover treatments that help people quit smoking.

Supporters say it could curb smoking rates and help everyone save on healthcare.

The idea is to help tobacco users who may have wanted to quit but couldn't afford the help they needed. Prescription cessation drugs can cost more than $100 a month.

Groups like the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society support the law, but local heath care providers are skeptical it will have much of an impact.

In the past five years, pharmacist Ben Calcaterra says there's been a boom in new products to help smokers kick the habit.

"Recently we've had new products come out that are prescription only and those products were covered by some insurances but not all," he says.

While Medicare and Medicaid cover cessation products, most private insurers do not.

"In fact, the same medications that can be used for depression can also be used for smoking cessation. Insurances would cover the depression pills but if they had smoking cessation listed, they would deny that claim," he says.

Like most drugs-- they are not cheap.

"The Chantix retails somewhere in the neighborhood of $170 for a monthly prescription," says Calcaterra.

While the new law could help those trying to quit, local health educator Angie Bailey doubts it will convince people to even try.

"I don't think a lot of people will flock to it just because it's covered by insurance," says Bailey.

Bailey say if money were the issue smokers wouldn't be paying $6 a pack for cigarettes to start with.

"It takes more than just the cessation aid to quit, they really have to have a desire and a will to quit," she says.

Bailey says in Jackson County the number of people smoking has remained relatively the same.

"In some years we do see decreases but not huge decreases. The tobacco industry works very hard to lure new smokers with advertising," says Bailey.

But nevertheless, health care professionals see the law as a step in the right direction.

"Any legal mandate that would require a patient to get benefits from their insurance to help them live a more healthy life is a great plus in our book," says Calcaterra.

Aside from the cost of cessation drugs, Calcaterra says some people stop taking the drugs because they think they're going through side effects, such as night-sweats or a racing heart. He says most often those are from the body going through withdrawal from the nicotine.

The law takes effect January 1, 2012.