Surcharge for smokers on state health care plan passes
By Yvonne Wenger
COLUMBIA — The state Budget and Control Board voted 3-2 Thursday morning to pass a smoker's surcharge for the state health care plan, which covers one in 10 South Carolinians.
The monthly $25 surcharge will be effective January 2010 for all policyholders who smoke or have a family member on their policy who smokes.
All five members of the Budget and Control Board were in favor of putting the surcharge in place; however, Gov. Mark Sanford and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom wanted to see the change take effect sooner.
All policyholders will be assumed to be smokers unless they sign an affidavit that neither they nor their family members smoke. The change will be a largely be on honor as state law prevents the state from testing for nicotine in a person's system. Penalties for lying could assessed.
South Carolina joins about 10 states that have taken this step.
For more on the story, read Friday's edition of The Post and Courier.
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