The Affordable Care Act is helping smokers quit
It is common knowledge that smoking can take years off of your life. But, now research is showing us that longtime smokers can expect to lose about 10 years of life expectancy.
But, there’s some good news. Those who quit before age 35 can gain most if not all of that decade back. And, quitting smoking, even in middle age, can add as many as six years to their life expectancy. In fact, non-smokers are twice as likely to live to age 80 compared to smokers.
Dr. Tim McAfee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, “There’s the old saw that everyone knows smoking is bad for you. But this paints a much more dramatic picture of the horror of smoking. These are real people that are getting 10 years of life expectancy hacked off — and that’s just on average.”
Read more in this article:Putting a Number on Smoking’s Toll (NY Times)
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The Obama Administration is focused on tacking the devastating effects of smoking and is dedicated to helping people, especially youth, from taking up smoking in the first place. Americans will now have greater access to resources that can help them quit under The Affordable Care Act.
And, check out the infographic below to see how quitting benefits your health:
Under The Affordable Care Act, those with private health insurance plans, tobacco use screenings, cessation interventions, and counseling for pregnant women who smoke will be covered at no out-of-pocket cost. Seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare who smoke or use tobacco are now covered for counseling to help them stop.
There will also be a significant investment in programs that focus on heart health and preventing cardiovascular diseases that are attributed to smoking.
Visit BeTobaccoFree.gov for additional resources on quitting and preventive tips for youth. For more information about the CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers ad campaign, see www.cdc.gov/tips.
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- Tackling tobacco addiction
- PA has mixed results in working to reduce tobacco use
- Tobacco-free hiring policy
- Success story: Advocating for smoke-free play zones in Mount Joy
