Not only do e-cigarettes boast some reportedly unhealthy aspects, but also they may end up costing you more than you realize given health insurance programs that may not like the alternative smoking device.
Using e-cigarettes, according to a published report, could end up being a very expensive habit if consumers' health plans are not in favor of the habit.
Smoking is often a consumer habit that insurance premiums ask about in determining a program cost and a report claims those who smoke are being charged up to 50 percent more than consumers who don't smoke.
Yet those living in certain states don't have to worry about the potential surcharge, as 10 states don't let insurers tag on the extra cost, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
However, that scenario may change as federal health officials are mulling placing e-cigarettes under the same rules as tobacco cigarettes.
The insurance rate impact may also be impacted by scientific research and reports, many of which have been hitting the news in the past few months. Most claim the electronic smoking device is likely not as safe as manufacturers have claimed.
There's only been one study, released earlier this week, that claims e-cigarettes are a viable way for smokers to quit the habit and that it has a 60 percent success rate in that use. E-cigarettes do not have Food and Drug Administration approval as a smoking cessation tool.
The U.K. study claims the vapor-based devices can be a successful option to quitting traditional tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes have a 60 percent success rate over other alternatives such as nicotine patches and gum.
The study assessed 5,863 smokers, in a five-year period, who were trying to quit the habit.
One out of five were successful using e-cigarette devices, states the research.
"E-cigarettes could substantially improve public health because of their widespread appeal and the huge health gains associated with stopping smoking," said Professor Robert West of University College London and senior study author.
"By providing a vapor containing nicotine without tobacco combustion, e-cigarettes appear able to reduce craving and withdrawal associated with abstinence in smokers while toxicity testing suggests that they are much safer to the user than ordinary cigarettes," states the study.
The news comes amidst a wave of recent research claiming the e-cigarette is not as healthy as some may think. The device is also under scrutiny by U.S. federal and state lawmakers concerned about a lack of regulation on sales and marketing.
The devices have recently been banned in some indoor public places and more bans are expected given insight on potential health issues with the vapor released.
