The Cost of Quitting

You’ve heard all the arguments that quitting smoking will save you money you would ordinarily spend on cigarettes. But if you’re using a medical aid to get you to quit, you might be in for some sticker shock.
 
Unfortunately, health insurance companies won’t help you out here. Chantix, a popular prescription medicine that helps reduce the urge to smoke, can cost up to $345 a month, a month’s supply of nicotine patches will cost around $100 and some nasal sprays can cost around $260 a month. Your insurance may provide support or counseling, but that’s about it.  
 
Of course, when you compare that cost to the ability to ride a bike or run up a flight of stairs without losing your breath, that cost out-of-pocket to quit smoking may be worth it. Keep an eye out for possible discounts—as this writer from Contra Costa Times found out, her AAA membership card got her a nearly 35% discount of her prescription medications that weren’t covered by insurance. [Contra Costa Times]