FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Mike Shelton
Capitol: (405) 557-7367
Shelton Seeks Insurance Help for Smokers
OKLAHOMA CITY (January 22, 2008) - In Oklahoma, smokers often have to
have cancer before an insurance company will pay for treatment. That's
why state Rep. Mike Shelton has filed legislation to require insurance
companies to provide coverage for smoking cessation programs.
"Our insurance companies are being penny wise and pound
foolish," said Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. "It's ridiculous to refuse
coverage for treatments that can prevent cancer in the long run and save
lives at the same time."
House Bill 2868 would require insurance companies to provide
coverage for "supplies, medication, and related services used as an aide
in the cessation of smoking when recommended or prescribed by a
physician or other licensed health care provider."
Shelton became aware of the problem when a friend was trying to
quit smoking but could not afford the cessation treatments on her income
and her insurance would not provide coverage.
"Asking someone to simply stop smoking without help is absurd,"
Shelton said. "It's not that easy. Nicotine is a very addictive drug and
many people cannot quit relying on willpower alone."
In 2004, Oklahoma had the third-highest rate of smoking
prevalence among the 50 states (26.1 percent of the adult population),
according to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If the state is every going to improve that number, officials
must aggressively support smoking cessation efforts, Shelton said.
"The Legislature needs to be more proactive when it comes to
improving the health of Oklahoma citizens," Shelton said. "There's a
reason Oklahoma ranks so horribly in almost every health category - the
Legislature, under both Democratic and Republican control, has failed to
act. As a result of those years of neglect, we're now forced to make up
time. This issue is literally a life-and-death situation for many
Oklahomans. We can't afford to risk the lives of our citizens based on
the opinion of a claims adjuster or even insurance company. Our citizen
and families are too important."
Shelton noted that the state smoking cessation hotline has
received roughly 17,000 calls in the last year, indicating a growing
demand for smoking cessation aid.
"House Bill 2868 makes great financial sense," he said. "We can
pay now to help someone stop smoking or pay later for expensive
radiation and chemotherapy treatments."
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