Quit For Life

A collaboration for a healthier workplace

Tobacco use remains the number one source of preventable morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) in the United States. For employers, it is also the single greatest cause of excess health care spending and productivity losses. Tobacco cessation coverage is one of the the most cost-effective health insurance benefits an employer can provide.

Quit For Life® overview

The American Cancer Society Quit For Life Program operated by Alere Wellbeing is a phone-based coaching and Web-based learning support service to help people quit smoking. Participants are matched with a Quit Coach who helps them develop a personalized quit plan, provides guidance in choosing medicines, and gives ongoing follow-up support. This program has helped more than 1 million tobacco users make a plan to quit for good.

Together, the American Cancer Society and Alere Wellbeing currently serve nearly 600 employers and health plans and 27 state agencies, with more than 50 million people having access to the Quit For Life Program.

Quit For Life gives tobacco users the support and help they need to stay focused on their personal reasons for quitting. Those willing to try to quit will get:

• Multiple outbound coaching calls and unlimited toll-free access to a Quit Coach
• Unlimited access to Web Coach®, an online community that offers e-learning tools, social support, and information about quitting
• Decision support for the type, dose, and use of medicine and, if needed, direct mail order access to the medicine
• Text2Quit – text messages personalized to each participant’s Quit Plan
• A printed, stage-appropriate quit guide
• Tailored, motivational emails sent throughout the quitting process

After 6 months, quit rates are assessed by a follow-up call. Participants are asked to report the day they last used tobacco products. Participants who have not used tobacco in the last 30 days are considered quit.

Benefits to employers

By introducing and promoting the American Cancer Society Quit For Life Program operated by Alere Wellbeing, employers can help reduce the number of employees who use tobacco and, in turn, reduce their health care costs. It also can mean fewer sick days and smoking breaks, which means an increase in employee productivity. Throughout the program, companies will receive Alere Wellbeing’s extensive comprehensive reporting data on usage and success rates to help evaluate the program’s success.

To learn more about Quit For Life, or for help with any cancer-related question, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345.