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Lower your Insurance Premium! – Quit Smoking

Tuesday, October 6th, 2015

Young Caucasian Woman Quiting Smoking

Did you know that smoking is not only bad for your health, but also hard on your wallet?  If your Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC health insurance premium is higher than you like, consider quitting.  Although under the ACA, health insurance companies are no longer allowed to ask any health questions, you still have to answer as to whether or not you are a tobacco user.  And if you are, your rate can increase by 20%!  Reducing the cost of your health insurance premium is another good reason to make this year the year you quit tobacco for good. (more…)

A REASON TO STOP – HEALTH EFFECTS OF TOBACCO

Friday, January 30th, 2015

Young Caucasian Woman Quiting SmokingThe health effects of smoking are the circumstances, mechanisms, and factors of tobacco consumption on human health. Epidemiological research has been focused primarily on cigarette tobacco smoking, which has been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption, but all forms of tobacco use are dangerous.  Research has proven overwhelmingly that the regular use of tobacco can damage every part of the body.

Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally. Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart, liver and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (including emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer). It also causes peripheral vascular disease and hypertension. The effects depend on the number of years that a person smokes and on how frequently the person smokes. Starting to smoke earlier in life and smoking cigarettes higher in tar increases the risk of these diseases. Cigarettes sold in underdeveloped countries tend to have higher tar content, and are less likely to be filtered, potentially increasing vulnerability to tobacco-related disease in these regions.

Also, environmental tobacco smoke, or secondhand smoke, has been shown to cause adverse health effects in people of all ages.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century. Similarly, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes tobacco use as “the single most important preventable risk to human health in developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide.”

Quitting smoking may be difficult, especially for those individuals who have developed the habit of regular tobacco use.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina wants to encourage you to make the change.  A healthy lifestyle is the number one form of preventive care and one of the best things you can do for your body.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov  to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents.  Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.

 
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