Tobacco Cessation Coverage

The American Lung Association supports policies that provide smokers with access to quit-smoking treatments.
Federal Coverage

Providing Federal Coverage for Cessation Services

The American Lung Association advocates for policies, laws and funding that ensure all tobacco users in the U.S. have access to evidence-based treatments that are proven to help them quit. One of the most important and major federal initiatives increasing tobacco cessation coverage is the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

All health insurance programs funded and run by the federal government should cover a comprehensive tobacco cessation benefit. Such federal programs include:

The American Lung Association also supports funding for tobacco cessation and prevention work through the Prevention and Public Health Fund and other means. One crucial federally-funded cessation program is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Tips from Former Smokers mass media campaign, which has led millions of Americans to resources for quitting smoking.

Finally, the American Lung Association supports adequate levels of funding for the federal agencies that work in tobacco control and prevention, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and agencies that fund research on tobacco cessation, including the National Institutes of Health.

State Coverage

State Coverage for Cessation Services

The American Lung Association supports state policies that give smokers easy access to all treatments proven effective to help them quit. This includes:

  • Fully funding state tobacco control programs including quitlines
  • Providing a comprehensive, easily-accessed tobacco cessation benefit to all Medicaid enrollees and state employees, and through other state-run health insurance plans
  • Ensuring all private health insurance plans cover a comprehensive, easily-accessible tobacco cessation benefit

State Tobacco Cessation Coverage Database

Find out which treatments your state covers to help smokers quit.
View database
Factsheets & Reports

The American Lung Association’s repository for tobacco cessation policy materials, including factsheets and other helpful resources.

The American Lung Association tracks Medicaid coverage of quit tobacco treatments in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Medicaid enrollees smoke at rates twice as high as their counterparts with private insurance, yet data shows they want to quit. Coverage of quit tobacco treatments without barriers to access can help them quit for good. Curious about what treatments are covered for Medicaid enrollees in your state? Did your state improve coverage or remove barriers to access since 2022? Click on a state below to find out more. For even more information about your state Medicaid program’s quit tobacco coverage and barriers to access, please visit our online database

Tobacco Cessation and the Affordable Care Act

Learn how the Affordable Care Act affects what treatments are covered to help smokers quit.
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