NYC Mayor Aims to Ban Smoking in More Places

9/17/2010

Smoking cuts thousands of lives short each year by contributing to a variety of deadly diseases - but fewer people may realize that tobacco use is a major red flag that usually leads life insurance companies to charge substantially more for premiums.

Of course, many know firsthand just how difficult it can be to quit smoking. But there are also a growing number of products on the market that can help them quit, from nicotine patches and gum to prescription drugs and even counseling services. Even better, some insurance companies will now cover these items as a way to save money on future smoking-related costs.

Another motivation that could help smokers at least cut down is the fact that they can no longer light up in many public places, including bars and restaurants.

More recently, a New York Times report says that Mayor Michael Bloomberg now hopes to ban smoking in a broader range of outdoor public places, including New York City parks, beaches and pedestrian malls.

An even greater inducement to quit smoking for some people may come in the form of the ever-rising tax increases that many states have slapped on tobacco as a way to discourage the habit while trying to close budget shortfalls.

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