smokers can be charged more for their coverage under the law than non-smokers by as much as 50%. the law defines a tobacco user as someone who uses any tobacco product including cigarettes cigars chewing tobacco snuff and pipe tobacco four or more times a week within the past 6 months. under small employer health plans you can't be charged the surcharge if you join a smoking cessation program but that's not available to people buying coverage on their own. some states have decided that insurers cannot charge smokers more for coverage so see what's available in your state.
what should smokers know about obamacare? . also what exactly constitutes a "smoker"? what if someone smokes or smoked casually but is willing to quit in order to avoid penalties under obamacare? are there any definite stipulations regarding this? for example if someone smoked a cigar last week but doesn't habitually smoke? can they be penalized?