Be Tobacco-Free

Most smokers want to quit…

Approximately 70 percent of smokers want to quit, yet annual quit rates remain low at around 7 percent. This illustrates just how hard this habit is to kick.

It's so hard to quit because the chemical nicotine is an extremely addictive substance which produces a soothing, satisfying effect. The more nicotine you consume, the more nicotine it takes for your body to feel normal. When your body doesn't get nicotine, it can cause you to feel uncomfortable and crave cigarettes, which creates a vicious cycle.

The good news is your chances of success increase with each attempt to quit smoking or using tobacco. Choosing to quit is the best decision you can make to improve your health. While smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, health improvements can start immediately once you quit. These health improvements get better no matter your age or how long you have smoked and include:

• Enhances quality of life

• Increases life expectancy

• Lowers risk for 12 types of cancer

• Lowers risk for cardiovascular diseases

• Lowers risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Lowers risk of some poor reproductive health outcomes

• Reduces risk of death from heart disease

• Slows the progression of COPD and reduces the loss of lung function over time

Time after quitting

After 20 minutes

Blood pressure drops

After 24 hours

Chance of heart attack decreases

After 1 year

Chance of a heart attack is cut in half

After 5 years

Stroke risk is reduced

After 15 years

Risk of heart disease is that of a non-smoker

If you are ready to quit the habit for good, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi can help. The key to success is having a plan and the proper support you need. Our Be Tobacco-free Program includes an approach with several components and the flexibility to take advantage of some or all of the available covered services.

The Be Tobacco-free Program provides coverage for enrolled Members for the following services at no out-of-pocket cost:

• Smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling

• Medication therapy

• Nicotine replacement therapy

• Blue quitline

Members with the Be Tobacco-free benefit can get started right away. Log in to your myBlue Member portal or call us at 601-664-4590 or 1-800-942-0278. It's time! Choose to be healthy and tobacco-free.