Quit Smoking Help For Smokers

Quit Smoking Help For Smokers: Starting today, smokers in Ontario who want to quit won't have to pay provincial sales taxes on stop-smoking aids -- and the health promotion minister is urging Ottawa to follow suit.

Jim Watson, who announced the exemption on all nicotine replacement therapy products, such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, sprays and tablets last month, said the federal government should do the same and remove the goods and services tax.

"I'm hopeful that the federal government will see that this is a good tax cut that they should be involved with," Watson told The Canadian Press.

As of Monday, a smoker who decides to butt out and spends about $300 over 10 weeks on nicotine replacement products will save roughly $24, Watson said.

Bonuses For Fitness

Quit Smoking Nicotine: Corporate wellness programs and rewards come in many forms. Here's a sampling of offerings in the Triangle:Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina * Offers $600 for taking a health screening and filling out a risk assessment questionnaire* Free fitness centers at three locations. * Free sports equipment, watches, MP3 players and other items for employees who work out regularly. * $250 a year toward smoking cessation programs.Open to: All company employees.

IBM * Two $150 cash bonuses a year (total of $300) for enlisting in two of the following monitored programs: healthy eating, physical activity or preventive care. * $150 reward for new hires who are nonsmokers or quit smoking.

Open to: All company employees. GlaxoSmithKline* 100 percent reimbursement for smoking cessation programs, includes medication, books, classes, nicotine patches and therapy. * $100 toward nutritional counseling, weight loss programs and fitness center memberships.* $100 reward for completing a health risk appraisal survey.

Open to: All company employees.Progress Energy* $100 bonus for taking a health screening and filling out a risk assessment questionnaire. * $400 bonus, effective next year, for not using tobacco and meeting goals in body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar level.* Disabled and other employees can qualify for the bonus by meeting alternate goals established with their physician and the company's approval.

Open to: All full-time company employees. SAS Institute * Commit to Quit (smoking cessation program) offers vouchers for up to $25 after six months and $50 after 12 months.

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