Does Celebratory Cigar Use Count as Being a Smoker?
Can I smoke a cigar at wedding celebrations, births, or yearly religious festivals (cf. Christmas & Easter) without counting as a smoker and being obligated to pay the tobacco surcharge?
Answer
The tobacco surcharge only applies to those who smoke 4 or more times a week, it doesn't include ceremonial or celebratory use.
Also, in reality the full surcharge rarely is charged to the customer. This is all based on the honor system, but being dishonest can bridge on misrepresentation. Only non-payment and misrepresentation can get you dropped from a plan. So we do think that when in doubt a 3-4 time a week smoker who struggles should consider checking the "smoker" box.
Learn more about ObamaCare and smokers.