Quit Tobacco: Report Card

How do we measure up?

Since the Health Reform Initiative began in 2006, smoking rates among King County employees and their spartners (benefits-covered spouse or domestic partner) have decreased significantly. 


Source: Washington state and King County data - BRFSS, King County employees and Spartners data - annual Wellness Assessment

Washington Quits estimates that each year, smokers cost employers $2,626 in medical costs and $3,312 in lost productivity.  If this estimate is accurate, employees and spartners who have quit smoking have saved the county more than $3 million since 2006 (558 fewer smokers in 2009 than 2006).  Medical conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, respiratory infection, flu and pneumonia are exacerbated by smoking.  These conditions often improve after someone quits smoking.  The chart below shows actual claims costs, represented as per member per month, for claims due to bronchitis, asthma, respiratory infection, flu and pneumonia.  Actual costs for these conditions in 2006, 2007 and 2009 were lower than projected.