The American Lung Association supports policies that provide smokers with access to quit-smoking treatments. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., claiming close to half a million people each year.

Since 2007, our Tobacco Cessation Policy Project has provided up-to-date information and tools for advocates, policymakers, media and smokers. The Lung Association is a leader in the area of tobacco cessation policy at the federal, state and local levels. To help smokers quit, the Lung Association encourages all health plans to cover a comprehensive, barrier-free cessation benefit. We also support policies that give smokers easy access to all treatments proven effective to help them quit. Medicaid expansion and most private health insurance plans are required to cover a comprehensive tobacco cessation benefit for plan members, including all seven medications and three types of counseling recommended by the U.S. The American Lung Association supports funding for federal, state and local programs that help tobacco users quit and prevent kids and adults from starting to use tobacco.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., making it critically important that prevention and cessation programs are available to help people break their tobacco addiction for good.

Smoking cessation tips