Medicare and Smoking

Years ago smoking cigarettes was an accepted past time in the United States. Smoking cigarettes was portrayed as a pleasurable experience. Money spent on tobacco products by consumers helped fuel the economy. Medical providers and the Centers for Disease Control began to collect documented reports of the disease producing effects of smoking cigarettes. Today health organizations in the United States define the smoking of cigarettes as a serious health hazard. Cigarettes have adverse health effects on the smoker and those near by due to second hand smoke being inhaled.

Medicare has expanded the federal role in reducing smokers of cigarettes in the United States. Medicare already covers drugs used to help smokers quit, and counseling for those who have a documented illness related to smoking cigarettes. Starting immediately Medicare has authorized coverage for up to eight counseling sessions per year for persons who simply have the desire to quit smoking cigarettes.

Collected data demonstrates seniors can respond to smoking cessation counseling even if they have been smoking for more than 40 years. The message clearly is it is never to late to quit smoking cigarettes and reduce your risk to complications from smoke related illness.

Medicare's medical officers see this as a cost saving strategy. Investing money in counseling to reduce the number of individuals lighting up cigarettes, will certainly help offset the billions the Medicare program spends on treating smoke related illnesses. The Medicare dollars collected by participating providers can be spent in local communities fueling the economy.