California

  • Icon Legend:
  • yes = Covered
  • varies = Coverage Varies
  • no = Not Covered

Medicaid Coverage

Medi-Cal coverage mostly varies by managed care organization:

  • yesNRT Gum
  • yesNRT Patch
  • yesNRT Nasal Spray
  • yesNRT Lozenge
  • yesNRT Inhaler
  • yesVarenicline (Chantix)
  • yesBupropion (Zyban)
  • variesGroup Counseling
  • variesIndividual Counseling
  • variesQuitline

Medi-Cal managed care organizations are required to have a tobacco cessation program. Information on these programs was not available. Please contact your plan if interested, or visit http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/MMCDHealthPlanDir.aspx

For more information, please call the Medi-Cal office at 800-952-5294 or visit their website at http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/default.aspx

State Employee Health Plan Coverage

Coverage for CALPERS members varies depending on which plan the member has. All CALPERS plans cover:

  • noNRT Gum
  • yesNRT Patch
  • yesNRT Nasal Spray
  • noNRT Lozenge
  • yesNRT Inhaler
  • yesVarenicline (Chantix)
  • yesBupropion (Zyban)
  • variesGroup Counseling
  • variesIndividual Counseling
  • variesPhone Counseling
  • yesOnline Counseling

Co-pays vary according to health plan, as do annual limits. Other treatments may be available depending on health plan. Coverage of counseling varies by health plan, but all plans offer a variation of online counseling.

For more information, please call the CALPERS office at 877-737-7776, or visit their website at http://www.calpers.ca.gov/index.jsp?bc=/eip/self-id-member.jsp

Private Insurance Coverage

This state does not require private health insurance plans to cover cessation treatments. Cessation coverage in private health insurance plans varies by employer and/or plan. Smokers with this type of health insurance should contact their insurance plan for information on cessation benefits.

This state does not mandate cessation coverage for private insurance plans.

Quitline

Contact Information: 1-800-QUIT-NOW; http://www.nobutts.org/

Hours: 7 AM - 9 PM Monday-Friday; 9 AM - 1 AM Saturday; closed Sunday

Eligibility to recieve counseling: All adult tobacco users in California are eligible to receive free telephone counseling to help them quit. Teens aged 14-17 are also eligible, with the consent of a parent or guardian.

Medications provided:

  • noNRT Gum
  • noNRT Patch
  • noNRT Nasal Spray
  • noNRT Lozenge
  • noNRT Inhaler
  • noVarenicline (Chantix)
  • noBupropion (Zyban)

(Source: North American Quitline Consortium, www.naquitline.org)

American Lung Association Resources

The American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® program is available in several communities in California either as a direct service, as self-help materials or via a referral to local health departments that provide the program. Additional resources include Freedom From Smoking® Online, a program available 24/7 at http://ffsonline.org and the American Lung Association's Lung HelpLine (800-LUNG-USA). For more information about program locations and schedules, call 510-638-8984 or visit us at http://www.californialung.org.