Tobacco surcharge
If you or your spouse or domestic partner is covered under the Stryker medical plan, is a tobacco-user (see tobacco-user definition below), and has not completed Strive tobacco cessation Journey this year or other program recommended by a physician, you will pay a surcharge for medical coverage.
You and your covered spouse or domestic partner must be tobacco free for at least six months or have completed a Strive tobacco cessation Journey or other program recommended by a physician this year when certifying your tobacco status to be considered a non-tobacco user.
The surcharge is applied once per employee regardless of the number of tobacco users you cover.
Current employees must verify their tobacco use status along with their covered spouse or domestic partner tobacco use certifying their tobacco status every year during annual enrollment.
New hires must verify their tobacco use status along with their covered spouse or domestic partner tobacco use certifying their tobacco status during their initial benefits enrollment period.
If an employee fails to certify their tobacco status, they will be considered a tobacco user for purposes of the Tobacco Cessation Program.
For employees who are required to pay the Tobacco Surcharge, the following apply:
- For current employees, the Tobacco Surcharge will be charged automatically starting with the first pay period of the following calendar year.
- For new hires, the Tobacco Surcharge will be charged automatically with the first medical plan contribution.
The Tobacco Surcharge can be removed by completing a Strive tobacco cessation Journey, or by complying with a program recommended by your physician, or by confirming via the Benefits Enrollment Site that the employee and/or spouse or domestic partner has quit using tobacco for a period of six months prior to the signature date. The Tobacco Surcharge will be removed within four pay periods following completion of the certification on the Benefits Enrollment Site. You will be credited with any surcharges paid for the year.
If you identify yourself and your spouse or domestic partner as a tobacco user, both individuals must complete Strive tobacco cessation Journey for the surcharge to be removed.
You will be considered a tobacco user if you used tobacco products during the last six months, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snuff. You will not be considered a tobacco user if you used tobacco products at the rate of once per month or less on average (such as an occasional celebratory cigar).
If you falsify your non-tobacco use, you will be immediately subject to the surcharge and may face termination of employment and/or termination of the medical plan.
Visit https://totalrewards.stryker.com and search for tobacco cessation to find details on how to enroll in the program.