According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cigarette smoking causes about one of every five deaths in the United States each year. It’s estimated to cause 443,000 deaths annually, including deaths from secondhand smoke. By now, you probably know the other reasons to quit using tobacco. But did you know that United Road employees who smoke can participate in a special “Quit the Nic!” program?

‘Quit the Nic’

Available to those who signed up for Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical benefits, this program to help drivers quit smoking is part of United Road’s Wellness program. It helps smokers gain the tools they need to be freed from tobacco through self-managed behavior and coping skills. The yearlong customized program features a dedicated health coach to keep participants on the path to a tobacco-free life.

Another thing to consider if you are a smoker:  The financial cost of smoking. The CDC reports that smoking costs more than $193 billion per year, including health-care expenditures. Recognizing that fact, many companies have been implementing health insurance surcharges for tobacco users. In fact, according to a Towers Watson annual survey of large companies, 42 percent of employers will have a tobacco-use surcharge this year, with that total rising to 62 percent in 2014.

According to the survey, surcharges average more than $500 annually with the largest hitting $1,200 per year.