1. Why is Henkel implementing a tobacco user surcharge?
Smoking is a leading cause of many serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, various cancers, respiratory diseases, and other illnesses. Smoking is also directly responsible for 87% of lung cancer cases and most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. All of these issues have had an impact on the cost of health care at Henkel for both the Company and our employees. Many large employers are taking steps to shift some of the costs from unhealthy behaviors to those employees that are tobacco users. As we have mentioned in the past, both you and Henkel share in the cost of your health care coverage. Our health care costs have risen, like others, with a portion of it directly related to conditions that result from tobacco use. Henkel is shifting a small portion of these costs to those employees that chose to continue to use tobacco products by implementing a tobacco user surcharge on medical premiums.
2. What is the tobacco user surcharge?
If you are enrolled in a Henkel-sponsored medical plan and are currently a tobacco user, there will be a $20 monthly surcharge on your medical premiums. During Open Enrollment, you need to certify if you have been tobacco-free for the past six months to avoid the surcharge. If you do not certify you are tobacco-free, even if you are not a tobacco user, you will default to the higher tobacco-user premiums for 2013.
3. Does the tobacco-user surcharge apply to my eligible dependents, (e.g. spouse/eligible domestic partner, eligible dependent child/children)? No, at this time, it just applies to Henkel employees enrolled in a Henkel-sponsored medical plan. 4. Who is considered to be a tobacco user?
A tobacco user is defined as currently using, or having used in the past six months, any type of tobacco product, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and any form of smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco).
5. How will Henkel confirm if a tobacco surcharge should apply?
All employees are required to certify during Open Enrollment if they are a tobacco user or tobacco free. The tobacco surcharge will apply to those employees that certify that they are tobacco users as well as non-tobacco users who do not certify during Open Enrollment that they are tobacco free. The default premium is the higher tobacco-user premium.
6. If I smoke electronic cigarettes am I considered a tobacco user?
Yes, if you smoke electronic cigarettes, you are considered a tobacco user. Electronic cigarettes are not an approved tobacco cessation product.
7. Is nicotine replacement therapy included in the definition of tobacco product use?
No, nicotine replacement therapy is not considered as using a tobacco product if you are using approved tobacco cessation products (i.e, Zyban, Chantix, transdermal patches, inhalers, gum, etc,). If you have been off all tobacco products for six months and you are using a nicotine patch, for example,
you are considered to be tobacco-free and are eligible for the reduced medical premiums as long as you certify that you are tobacco-free during Open Enrollment.
8. I don’t use tobacco products. How do I avoid the tobacco surcharge?
If you are tobacco-free, you need to certify during Open Enrollment. Log on to www.ibenefitcenter.com/Henkel or call 1-800-231-2814 and certify that you are not a tobacco user or have not used tobacco products in the six months prior to Open Enrollment.
9. If I am still using tobacco products, what can I do to avoid the tobacco surcharge?
You will start paying the higher tobacco-user premium in 2013. If you want to avoid the surcharge, you need to enroll in and complete the Carewise Breathe tobacco cessation program. After you meet the requirements of completing the program, your surcharge will be removed for the remainder of the year and you will then pay the lower non-tobacco premium.
10. I want to quit using tobacco, but need help to do it. What should I do?
Henkel wants to encourage you to become tobacco free. We offer the Carewise Breathe tobacco cessation program at no cost to you. The Carewise Breathe program is available either online or over the phone with a quit coach. To get started, you can go online to myhenkelwellness.com or call Carewise at 1-866-691-8434. In addition, prescription tobacco cessation medications and certain over-the-counter tobacco cessation products (transdermal patches and inhalers) are covered at 100% through Medco.
11. Does the Henkel Health Plan cover prescription drugs to help me stop using tobacco?
Henkel’s prescription drug plan with Medco covers Chantix and Zyban at 100%. Over-the-counter medications, such as Nicotine Transdermal, Nicotrol NS and Nicotrol Inhaler, will be covered at 100% if you bring the product to the pharmacist and he/she processes your purchase through the prescription drug plan.
12. What is considered as having completed the Carewise Breathe Program?
The program includes and is considered as completed as follows: Online ─ Self-monitored program with access to support tools and resources online ─ Ongoing activities to help you quit ─ Personal
─ The online program will be considered complete after a 90-day follow-up survey Over the Phone ─ A quit coach to assist you in developing a quit timeline ─ Your coach will tailor activities to fit your needs ─ Your coach is available to provide direction and guidance to help you successfully quit ─ The telephonic program will be considered complete after at least four tobacco cessation phone
calls with a Carewise wellness counselor consisting of setting goals and an action plan, initiating the action plan, completion of the Relapse Prevention program and demonstration of tracking and
13. What if I enroll in a tobacco cessation program at any time during 2013?
You can enroll at any time during the year. Once you complete the program, you will be eligible for the non-tobacco user medical premium for the remainder of 2013.
14. What if I quit using tobacco products during 2013? Can I recertify my tobacco status?
We will only be certifying tobacco status once a year during open enrollment. In order to have the tobacco surcharge removed during 2013, you will need to complete the Carewise Breathe program.
15. What if I quit using tobacco products on my own, instead of through the Carewise Breathe Program? If you have been tobacco-free for six months at the time you certify your status during open enrollment, you will be considered a non-tobacco user. However, if you have previously certified your status as a tobacco user, you must complete the Carewise Breathe program to have the tobacco surcharge removed. 16. I currently have a Supplemental Life Insurance policy and am also a smoker. Will taking the Carewise Breathe program change my premiums to non-smoker? You must be smoke free for 12 months in order to qualify as a non-smoker under ING’s Supplemental Life Insurance plan. This requirement is different from the Tobacco Surcharge and has a different certification process. Taking the Carewise program and/or certifying as a non-tobacco user for the Tobacco Surcharge will not impact your Supplemental Life Insurance rates as a result. 17. I recently quit smoking. How can I change my Supplemental Life Insurance rates to non- smoker? If you are enrolled in a smoking plan and wish to enroll in a non-smoking plan, you must call Henkel’s Total Rewards Benefits Center at 1-800-231-2814 to request a plan change. You must have been smoke free for at least 12 months in order to be eligible to make this change.
18. What if I start working at Henkel after the annual open enrollment is over or during the 2013 year? If you are tobacco-free at the time you enroll for benefits, you will be eligible for the non-tobacco user premiums as long as you certify when you enroll for benefits that you are tobacco free. If you are a tobacco user, you will have the $20 monthly tobacco surcharge on your medical premiums, until you complete the Carewise Breathe program. 19. Do I have to use the Carewise Breathe, tobacco cessation program?
You are welcome to use any program you wish. If you have been tobacco-free for six months at the time you certify your status during open enrollment, you will be considered a non-tobacco user. However, if you previously certified your status as a tobacco user, you must complete the Carewise Breathe program to have the tobacco surcharge removed.
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