Tobacco Attestation
Tobacco attestation is the section of the enrollment process for the State Health Plan that asks about your tobacco use. All State Health Plan members MUST complete the tobacco attestation to avoid the default surcharge of $60 a month for the next year’s premiums. Members who do not complete the tobacco attestation during open enrollment will be charged the monthly $60 tobacco surcharge.
Even if you completed the tobacco attestation during last year’s open enrollment OR recently as a new hire, you must make a new attestation during this year’s open enrollment to receive the $60 monthly premium credit (that is, to not pay the monthly surcharge) for 2025.
Tobacco attestation ONLY applies to the employee, not to their spouse or dependents. Tobacco users can complete a free tobacco cessation session no later than Nov. 30, 2024, to avoid the monthly $60 charge.
Save $720 next year!
Avoid a $60 surcharge to your monthly health insurance premium
by completing the tobacco attestation during open enrollment.
How to Attest
When you access the State Enrollment Portal to select your State Health Plan option for 2025, the Tobacco Attestation box will automatically appear while choosing next year’s health coverage. To attest, simply select one of three options that best describes your tobacco use:
- Non-tobacco user.
- Tobacco user.
- Tobacco user who would like to earn monthly premium credit by completing a tobacco attestation counseling session. See For Tobacco Users section below.
For Tobacco Users
This section only applies to employees, not to spouses or dependents.
Tobacco users have until Nov. 30, 2024, to attend a tobacco cessation counseling session at a Primary Care Provider’s (PCP) office for FREE to receive a lower premium for 2025. Make sure your provider files under the State Health Plan for this tobacco counseling session.
After you visit a PCP for your tobacco cessation session, the provider will submit a claim on your behalf. Be sure to request a copy of your visit summary during your counseling session to hold as verification.
You can also upload your office visit summary to the Document Center located in the State Enrollment Portal:
- Log in to ConnectCarolina Self Service
- Click on the My Benefits tile
- Choose Benefits Enrollment on the left
- Choose State Enrollment Portal
- Click Document Center on the left
If you combine your tobacco cessation visit with another service, there may be a copay.
Tobacco Attestation Credit by Plan Type
| Tobacco Attestation Premium Credit | Enhanced (80/20) Plan | Base (70/30) Plan |
|---|---|---|
| At time of enrollment employee-only monthly premium | $110 | $85 |
| *Attest to being a non-tobacco user or agree to visit a provider (by Nov. 30. 2023) for at least one cessation counseling to earn a monthly premium credit of $60 | -$60 | -$60 |
| Total Monthly Employee Premium (With Credit) | $50 | $25 |
Open enrollment information applies only to UNC-Chapel Hill benefits-eligible permanent employees:
permanent full- and part-time SHRA, EHRA Non-Faculty and Faculty working a minimum of 20 hours a week. Temporary employees working 30 hours or more per week may be eligible to enroll in the State Health Plan’s High Deductible Health Plan; eligible temporary employees will be notified by a UNC Benefits email.
Learn more about benefits eligibility.