Note: As of September 30, 2011 the National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative is no longer operational.

Counseling and Support
What Can Help
Me To Quit?
How Well
Does It Work?
How Much
Does It Cost To Quit?1
Does Insurance
Cover It?
Where Can
I Get It?
Counseling and Support
Counseling and Support-In Person (Individual or Group) better $ to $$$ Your doctor, clinic, hospital or health department
Counseling and Support-Telephone better Free No cost Your state or local health department or quitline, such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW
CHART LEGEND
1 Cost may be free or significantly reduced if your insurance, health plan, quitline or clinic provides coverage.
2 Generic versions, store brands and other brands are available.
3 Many quitlines provide free or low-cost medication to eligible adults. Check with your quitline.
best = Best
better = Better
good = Good
okay = Okay
no evidence = No evidence that this treatment is effective
$ = under $150
$$ = $151 - $299
$$$ = $300 and above
checkmark = Yes, often covered. Check with your insurance company or health plan.  

Counseling and Support

Smokers who want to quit can meet a counselor in person (alone or in a group with other smokers) or talk over the phone. The counselor, also known as a coach, can give you good advice on ways to quit and support you while you are trying to quit. The more often you meet, the more likely you will to be able to quit. Talking with a counselor and using quit medicines can give you the best chance of quitting (see “Combination Methods”).

To increase your chances of quitting, your counselor should talk to you about:

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In-Person Counseling and Support

Telephone Counseling and Support Some quit programs have counselors you can meet with face-to-face. Many local clinics or hospitals have counselors or groups to help you quit. Some are free or cost a small amount.

Starting in 2011, any smoker will be able to get cessation counseling through Medicare. Medicare will cover 2 attempts to quit each year, and each attempt includes up to 4 counseling sessions. This means that Medicare will cover up to 8 cessation sessions each year.

Ask your doctor about cessation counseling, or contact your local clinic, hospital, or health department.

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Telephone Counseling and Support

nicotine gum You can also talk to a counselor over the telephone to help you quit or to avoid starting up again. Quitline counseling can double your chances of quitting smoking. If you are looking for a quitting program or have a question about quitting, you can call a quitline or helpline. Many of these telephone programs are free, such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You can also find quitlines in languages other than English.

Every state in the USA has a Tobacco Quit Line. Go to map.naquitline.org to get more information about quitlines and their services in your state. You can get free telephone counseling and support, printed quit guides, and web assistance through your local clinic or local health department quitline, or by calling 1-800-QUIT- NOW for free. Some quitlines also provide quit medicines at no cost.

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