Tobacco users who are employed in the Palm Beach County School District will have to pay at least $50 extra per month for their health insurance starting next year, reports AP.
Marilyn Boursiquot, the district's benefits manager, said workers who sign a "tobacco affidavit" saying they plan to continue using tobacco products - or those who don't sign before the Aug. 1 deadline - will see the surcharge beginning Jan. 1.
The district says its insurance provider wants to increase all employees' insurance premiums next year.
The tobacco surcharge and other measures such as requiring employees to get a physical are ways to limit that increase, the district says, AP reports.
The school district is the largest employer in the county, with roughly 21,000 workers.
District spokesman Nat Harrington said the district's insurance provider wants to increase every employee's insurance premiums next year.
By agreeing to several measures, such as the tobacco surcharge for smokers and requiring employees to get a physical by August, the district will be able to limit the amount of that increase, he said, AP reports.
Boursiquot said the exact amount of the premium increase is still being negotiated. The amount of the surcharge might ultimately be higher than $50 as well by the time negotiations are finalized, she said.
If employees pay a $50-per-month surcharge, it will cost them $600 more per year for health insurance if they smoke, AP reports.
