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ERS

[MPLOvEu¢1UnREM{N1 Choose to Quit Program
SvsTEM u. TtxAS

An alternative to paying the tobacco-user pre1nium

Recent federal regulations require ERS to offer a new alternative to paying the tobacco-user
premium. This is for members and their dependents who are enrolled in GBP health plans
and certified as tobacco users. Choose to Quit (CTQ) is a program that allows tobacco users to
have their Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) tobacco-user premiums waived
for the plan year. Program rules apply.

If any of your employees currently have a Physician's Affidavit on file, that affidavit \\rill no

longer be effective starting September 1, 2015.

Employees musl complele each slep of lhe program to have Lhe Lobacco-user premium waived
for the rest of the Plan Y car. The Choose to Quit program rules arc as follows:

1. Contact your doctor (M.D. or D.O.) and discuss which tobacco cessation program is
right for you.
2. Complete that program.
3. Return to your doctor, discuss your program completion, and have your doctor sign
and date your Choose to Quit Certification form.
4. Sign your completed Choose to Quit Certification form.
5. Submit your Choose to Quit Certification form to ERS as soon as possible and have it
postmarked no later than the end of your health plan year (August 31 for active
employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents; December 31 for
Medicare-eligible retirees and their dependents).

More information on the Choose to Quit program is available on the Tobacco Policy page of
the ERS website.

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