 [ Symptoms ] i have a 9 year old daughter who suffered some sort of seizure yesterday [ Disease ] the affordable care act does allow insurers to charge smokers a 50 surcharge because of their tobacco use that can amount to a large increase    potentially thousands of dollars    in the cost of health insurance for smokers and the tax credits available to help lower the cost of insurance premiums cannot be applied to offset the smoking penalty however insurers do have flexibility in how this surcharge is applied and some states have banned the practice meaning insurers selling in vermont and washington dc for example will not be allowed to charge smokers more for their insurance plan you can check with your state is department of insurance to learn the law where you live in addition the law does require insurers to cover treatments that help smokers quit most employers make smoking cessation programs available as well and under the law is regulations insurers will not be allowed to charge you the full surcharge if you enroll in a smoking cessation program