Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (ANTHEM) and UnitedHealthcare Members Active Employee Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (ANTHEM) and UnitedHealthcare Non-Medicare Advantage Members Retiree Tobacco Users Surcharge Removal Policy
2026 Retiree Tobacco Users Surcharge Removal Policy* for Non-Medicare Advantage Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (ANTHEM) and UnitedHealthcare Members
It takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements. You must complete the Sharecare RealAge® Test and a telephonic well-being coaching program or any online tobacco cessation program by December 31, 2026.
This policy only applies to the 2026 plan year. You must notify Sharecare that you have completed all Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements by December 31, 2026 to have the surcharge removed and refunded.
This policy applies to Anthem and UnitedHealthcare members who use tobacco or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (also known as vapes or electronic cigarettes) and are paying the tobacco surcharge. This policy allows you to have the tobacco surcharge removed by completing the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements through your well-being vendor Sharecare as outlined in the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements.
The surcharge ($80 per month) applies if the member or any of the member’s enrolled dependents are not tobacco-free or do not complete the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements.
Sharecare offers telephonic tobacco cessation coaching programs to assist SHBP members and their dependents to quit using tobacco products. SHBP members are allowed to participate in tobacco cessation coaching at no additional cost to them. For complete details or to sign up for the telephonic tobacco cessation coaching, please call Sharecare at: 888-616-6411, or for the online tobacco cessation program go to BeWellSHBP.com and select Craving to Quit.
If you and your enrolled dependents complete the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements, you will be able to avoid the surcharge for the entire year. This means that all of the tobacco surcharge you paid in 2026 may be refunded after the completion all of the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements. All Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements must be completed in 2026.
Qualifying Events
Members currently paying the tobacco surcharge due to a covered dependent (spouse or child) utilizing tobacco who experience a qualifying event may be eligible to have the tobacco surcharge removed if no other covered dependent is utilizing tobacco.
To be eligible for a refund of 2026 tobacco surcharges paid prior to the qualifying event, the tobacco user must have completed all Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements prior to the qualifying event. If the tobacco user did not complete all of the Tobacco Surcharge Removal Requirements prior to the qualifying event, then the member must complete all of the requirements outlined in the Non-Tobacco User Surcharge Removal Policy to be eligible for a refund of the tobacco surcharges paid in 2026.
*Note: The Tobacco Surcharge Removal Policy applies to tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery system products.