Smoking Cessation Programs

Are you a smoker who's thinking about quitting? Use this tool to find out if you're ready to quit, the stage you are in and what to think about next.

Freedom from Smoking Online offered by the American Lung Association provides tools and techniques essential to successfully stop smoking. Progress through educational modules at your own pace and reach out to others to build an online support system.

Smokefree.gov provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support your immediate and long-term needs to quit smoking.

Quitworks is a phone counseling, information and referral service for Mass. residents who want to quit. Developed by the Mass. Department of Public Health (MDPH) with health plans across the state, QuitWorks is part of the Try-To-STOP Tobacco Resource Center funded by the MDPH. Ask your doctor to send a referral to QuitWorks. You’ll receive:

• Free smoking cessation telephone counseling
• Free educational materials to help you quit
• Free Web site tools
• MOMS - Mom & Me Smoke Free helps pregnant women living in Mass. to quit
• Quit Tips Line 1-800-9-GETATIP (1-800-943-8284) available 24/7

For more information call Try-To-STOP:   1-800-879-8678
                                                                  1-800-8-DEJALO (800-833-5256) en espanol
                                                                  1-800-TDD-1477 (800-833-1477) TTY

Reimbursement for Prescription Smoking Cessation Medications

• Members of MA-based Employer Plans
  If your plan coverage includes Tufts Health Plan's pharmacy benefit, you may be eligible for reimbursement of certain smoking cessation prescription medications (such as Chantix and Bupropion) when used in conjunction with a smoking cessation education program. To request prescription reimbursement, send the following information to Tufts Health Plan, PO Box 9191, Watertown, MA 02471-9191:
  • Certificate of participation from any smoking cessation program
  • Receipt for the prescribed smoking cessation medication (proof of purchase). Your prescription must not exceed a 12-week supply.
• Members of RI-based Employer Plans
  If your plan coverage includes Tufts Health Plan's pharmacy benefit, prescription smoking cessation medications (such as Chantix and Bupropion) will be covered.

Reimbursement for Over-The-Counter (OTC) Smoking Cessation Medications

• Members of MA-based Employer Plans
  Over the counter smoking cessation products are not reimbursable.
  
• Members of RI-based Employer Plans
  If your plan coverage includes Tufts Health Plan's pharmacy benefit, you may be eligible for reimbursement of certain over-the-counter smoking cessation medications (such as gums, lozenges, nicotine patches). To request prescription reimbursement, send the following information to Tufts Health Plan, PO Box 9191, Watertown, MA 02471-9191:
  • Physician's order for OTC medications (example: written order on a prescription form)
    
  • Receipt for the over-the-counter smoking cessation medication (proof of purchase).

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about quitting tobacco use:	Am I ready to quit smoking? How much does smoking cigarettes cost? How much does smoking increase my risk for a heart attack? How harmful is tobacco use? How does smoking affect my life span? Are pipes or cigars safer than cigarettes? What are the effects of secondhand smoke?
Getting treatment:	How can I get myself to quit using tobacco? What are the steps to quitting tobacco use? How do I choose a stop-smoking program? What should I know about nicotine replacement therapy? Should I use nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking? Should I take medicine to quit smoking? How can I help someone stop using tobacco?
Ongoing concerns:	What if I have already tried to stop using tobacco? What if I start using tobacco again? Why do I use tobacco?