Smoking Cessation

Colby College's Health Plan (HMO and Comp-Care) provides benefits for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products and anyh other medication specifically approved by the FDA for smoking cessation.  To be eligible for benefits, these products and medications must be prescribed by your physician, including medications available over-the-counter.  Benefits include:

• NRT products, including, but not limited to, nicotine patches, gum or nasal spray.  You may obtain medications by using your prescription drug card.  Applicable co-payments will apply.  There is a $200 limit per calendar year.
• up to two physician office visits per calendar year for follow-up smoking cessation education and counseling.
• possible reimbursement for completing an approved smoking cessation program.

Quitting can be hard, so refer to any of the resources below to help you become tobacco-free!

The American Cancer Society

Want to increase your chances of quitting for good?

• Call the American Cancer Society's Quitline®, a clinically proven, free telephone-based counseling program, at 1-800-ACS-2345.
• Or visit www.cancer.org/smokeout.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Anthem's web site offers a wide variety of information on smoking cessation.  You WILL need to log in to view the information, so you may need to create an account.  All that is needed is the group number from your Anthem id card.

Go the Anthem home page and click on Register if you need to create and account, or Login if you already have an account.  Once you are logged in, click on the blue 360° Health tab. On the left side of the page, in the Health Tools section, click on the Ready, Set, Stop! link. 

On the left side of the page, you may also click on Health Topics A-Z.  On that page, click on S and from there, click on the SM link.  Scroll down to get to the smoking related topics.

NOTE:  Colby's health plan does include some coverage for smoking cessation.  Call the number on the back of your ID card for details.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Cigna Healthy Rewards offers three programs to help you quit:

• Healthy Roads for Living Tobacco Cessation
• QuitNet
• Tobacco Solutions

For more information, click here.

Healthy Maine Partnerships and Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine

Find a wealth of information related to smoking and quitting by going to these sites.  Included is information about t the Maine Tobacco Helpline:  1-800-207-1230, a free, confidential helpline.

Maine General

Maine General offers regular Smoking Cessation Support Group meetings in Waterville and Augusta.  In additon, they offer periodic Smoking Cessation Readiness classes.  For more information, click here.  These are free services.