It's Never Too Late to Stop Smoking

You probably already know that a good way to improve your health is to quit smoking. Smoking puts you at risk for many serious conditions that can shorten your life — yet many find it difficult to quit. That’s why Tufts Health Plan offers programs and resources to help.

Why quit now?
As an older adult, you may believe that stopping now won’t do you any good. But that’s not true. You can benefit from quitting smoking at any age. The body begins recovering as soon as you stop — even if you’ve smoked for years.

Improve your health
By quitting you can:

• Lower your risk for lung and other types of cancer
• Reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke
• Reduce your risk of developing or worsening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death in the United States

You can also:

• Improve your sense of taste and smell
• Save money
• Avoid exposing loved ones to secondhand smoke

How to Quit
The first step is to make a firm decision to quit and pick a definite date to stop. Then you can make a clear plan for how you will go about quitting by that date.

You might ask a friend to quit with you, or join a support group. Some people use nicotine replacement products to help them quit. No matter how you decide to quit, the key is sticking to your plan — and you may need extra help to achieve this major step towards better health.

Get Support
You don’t have to navigate the quitting process alone. We can help you break the addiction to nicotine.

• Cessation Counseling — Tufts Health Plan offers members coverage for 2 cessation attempts per year (each attempt may include a maximum of 4 intermediate or intensive sessions, with the patient getting up to 8 sessions per year).¹
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Nicotine Replacement Products —  Smart Saver Rx and PPO RX plan members can use their OTC benefit toward Medicare-approved over-the-counter nicotine replacement products.

Additional resources to help you quit
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers counseling through the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program (MTCP). The program’s goal of reducing tobacco and nicotine use includes assistance in helping current smokers quit.

Programs are available online, over the phone, and through text and email. To get started, visit
mass.gov/take-the-first-step-toward-a-nicotine-free-life, or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

¹Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling is covered for outpatient and hospitalized patients who meet these criteria: 

• Use tobacco, regardless of whether they exhibit signs or symptoms of tobacco-related disease
• Are competent and alert during counseling
• A qualified physician or other Medicare-recognized practitioner provides counseling.

For details, see the Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for your plan at tuftsmedicarepreferred.org/documents.