Depression and quitting tobacco use
Achieving a healthy lifestyle can be challenging. That’s why BCN, as your health partner, offers a number of valuable resources to help you earn enhanced benefits and reach your wellness goals.
Tobacco use
- Tobacco use is determined by cotinine testing of blood and urine, which confirms the presence of nicotine. The test is conducted by your primary care physician and is required for all new and renewing members for the first year of enrollment. Those who test positive for nicotine will be tested annually.
- If you or your covered spouse uses tobacco, you are required to enroll and actively participate in our free tobacco cessation program within 120 days of the start of your plan year.
- You must participate in the program until you quit using tobacco. If you use tobacco and choose not participate in our program, you will be moved to the standard benefit level.
- To confirm that you have stopped using tobacco, you must complete and submit a new Qualification Form signed by your doctor. You may submit the updated form at any time during the plan year. When we receive the updated form, you will no longer need to participate in Quit the Nic.
Depression
- Besides being the number one cause of disability worldwide, depression can increase a person’s chance of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
- Your primary care physician will conduct a depression screening during your first visit by asking you a series of questions. BCN gives you access to behavioral health services 24 hours a day seven days a week by going online or calling the number on the back of your ID card.
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page modified 01/24/2012