State Tobacco Cessation Coverage

Medicaid Coverage

Healthy Connections covers:

NRT Gum
NRT Patch
NRT Nasal Spray
NRT Inhaler
NRT Lozenge
Varenicline (Chantix)

Bupropion (Zyban)
Group Counseling
Individual Counseling

Coverage varies by health plan. All plans cover patches and gum limited to 90 days of treatment for each quit attempt. Members should contact their health plan to find out what else is covered.

For more information, please call the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services at 888-549-0820, or visit their website at http://www.dhhs.state.sc.us/dhhsnew/medicaid.asp

View Medicaid Coverage Details

State Employee Health Plan Coverage

The Employee Insurance Program covers:

NRT Gum
NRT Patch
NRT Nasal Spray
NRT Inhaler
NRT Lozenge
Varenicline (Chantix)

Bupropion (Zyban)
Group Counseling
Individual Counseling
Phone Counseling

One quit attempt is covered per year. Co-payments are required for bupropion and varenicline. Members of the State Health Plan and BlueChoice HealthPlan must enroll in the Quit for Life program to receive medications: http://www.freeclear.com/quit-for-life/ . Members of Cigan must enroll in the Quit Today program to receive medications: http://mycigna.com

For more information, please call the South Carolina Employee Insurance Program at 803-764-0678 or 888-260-9430, or visit their website at http://www.eip.sc.gov/

View State Employee Health Plan Coverage Details

Private Insurance Coverage

This state does not require private health insurance plans to cover cessation treatments. Cessation coverage in private health insurance plans varies by employer and/or plan. Smokers with this type of health insurance should contact their insurance plan for information on cessation benefits.

This state does not mandate cessation coverage for private insurance plans.

Quitline

The South Carolina Tobacco Quitline is open 8AM-12AM (Eastern Time). You can reach the South Carolina Tobacco Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

American Lung Association Resources

The American Lung Association of South Carolina provides smoking cessation services statewide. Options include Freedom From Smoking® Online, a program available 24/7 at http://www.ffsonline.org and the American Lung Association's Lung HelpLine (800-LUNG-USA). For further information, please call 803-779-5864 or visit us online at http://www.alase.org

Type of Treatment	State Covers Treatment?	Data Source
MCO's Control Meds Coverage?
NRT Gum	Yes	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
NRT Patch	Yes	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
NRT Nasal Spray	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
NRT Lozenge	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
NRT Inhaler	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Varenicline (Chantix)	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Bupropion (Zyban)	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Group Counseling	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Individual Counseling	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below

Type of Barrier	State Has Barrier?	Data Source
Limits on duration	Yes	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Lifetime limit on quit attempts	No
Annual limit on quit attempts	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Prior authorization required	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Co-payments required	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Stepped-care therapy	Varies	Multiple Sources. See Additional Sources Below
Counseling Required for Medications	Varies
Dollar Limit	No
Other

Type of Treatment	State Covers Treatment?	Data Source
MCO's Control Meds Coverage?
NRT Gum	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
NRT Patch	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
NRT Nasal Spray	No	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
NRT Lozenge	Varies	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
NRT Inhaler	No	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Varenicline (Chantix)	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Bupropion (Zyban)	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Group Counseling	No	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Individual Counseling	No	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Phone Counseling	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Online Counseling	Varies	Cigna, "Quit Today Tobacco Cessation Program"
Quit Kit	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008

Type of Barrier	State Has Barrier?	Data Source
Limits on duration	No
Lifetime limit on quit attempts	No
Annual limit on quit attempts	Yes	Free and Clear, Quit for Life Program, South Carolina State Health Plan
Prior authorization required	No
Co-payments required	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Stepped-care therapy	No
Counseling Required for Medications	Yes	Employee Insurance Program, Insurance Benefits Guide, 2008
Dollar Limit	No

Type	Value	Data Source
Cessation mandate on the books	No
Mandate applies to all insurance carriers	n/a
Mandate applies to all populations	n/a
State mandates wellness program including smoking cessation	No
Other stipulations	n/a

Stop Smoking

Lung HelpLine

E-Newsletter

South Carolina

Medicaid Coverage

State Employee Health Plan Coverage

Private Insurance Coverage

Quitline

American Lung Association Resources

Medicaid Data Sources

State Employee Health Plan Data Sources

Private Insurance Coverage Details