Blumenthal asks insurance companies to help smokers quit

People who purchased health insurance through the state healthcare exchange and who want to quit smoking are entitled to free medications and services — even if their insurer doesn’t appear to want them to know about it.

That was the message from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who joined forces last week with heart and lung care advocates in Hartford to call upon ConnectiCare and United Healthcare to halt “unfair and potentially illegal” practices that prevent people from getting the help they need to stop smoking.

Blumenthal said two out of four insurers on Connecticut’s insurance exchange have not complied with federal healthcare exchange guidelines when it comes to the availability of smoking cessation medications and counseling.

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance plans purchased through federal and state exchanges to cover certain preventive products and services with no co-pay or deductible. That coverage must be granted automatically, without prior approval.

The August 2015 update of a report by the American Lung Association shows that ConnectiCare’s list of approved drugs available free of charge does not include nicotine lozenges, nicotine nasal spray, or nicotine inhalers. The report also found that information on the insurance company’s tobacco cessation website does not match the list of approved drugs.

In a statement, ConnectiCare it is in compliance with all federal and state coverage requirements.

“The Connecticut Department of Insurance has approved our plans as being compliant,” the company said.

The same American Lung Association report cited United Healthcare, based in Georgia, for not automatically covering medications outlined in ACA guidelines. The insurer requires prior authorization for all seven FDAapproved tobacco cessation medications.

A statement from United Healthcare failed to address the prior authorization allegations, instead focusing on the fact that it offers medications and services without a copay or deductible.