Breaking the Habit

By D'Lyn Ford

NC State’s payroll manager, Blake Kannarr, can sum up all of the reasons he wants to stop smoking, both personal and financial. The most important are his family, including a wife and two teenage sons, and a mother with terminal lung cancer.

With cigarettes at $4.50 per pack, cost is also a factor. And changes in the State Health Plan this year have added to his motivation. All health plan members will automatically have their benefits reduced from the 80/20 level to the 70/30 level in July unless they complete an online form stating that they and all of their covered family members either do not use tobacco or are enrolled in a doctor-approved cessation program.

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