American Lung Association, Cancer Society Oppose Tobacco Surcharges in Obamacare

Support the Affordable Care Act but argue steep smoking penalties will make smokers quit their insurance coverage, not their habit

ObamaCare may have backfired in its goal of making smoking so expensive that users quit, public health experts say, as sky-high insurance premiums force smokers to drop coverage altogether and lose smoking cessation programs along with it.

"Tobacco surcharges are not proven to help tobacco users quit and there are major concerns that they will prevent people from getting health care coverage," the American Lung Association's Jennifer Singleterry said.