Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | March 2020

HEALTHY 6 Many former smokers say quitting was the hardest thing they ever did. However, millions of people have been able to do it, and you can too. Quitting smoking involves practice, flexibility, commitment and effort. It’s OK to make mistakes; people learn something new about quitting every time they try and are much stronger the next time they try. The first step to stop smoking is learning why you feel like you need to smoke. Knowing this can prepare you to find the best ways to quit and live a smoke-free life. There are many options to help quit smoking. There is in-person or over- Would you like to quit smoking? We can help! FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on the Alliance’s TCSP, please call the Alliance Health Education Line at 800-700-3874, ext. 5580 . Are you under the age of 26 ? Young adults may be eligible for health care benefits through Medi-Cal To see if you qualify, call your local county’s Medi-Cal office: MERCED COUNTY: (209) 385-3000 www.c4yourself.com MONTEREY COUNTY: (877) 410-8823 www.c4yourself.com SANTA CRUZ COUNTY: (888) 421-8080 www.mybenefitscalwin.org Get covered! Enroll in Medi-Cal starting January 1, 2020 . the-phone counseling that can be very effective. Smoking cessation programs help smokers manage and cope with problems they have when trying to quit. The programs teach problem- solving and other coping skills. Talk to your doctor to find the option that will work best for you. The Alliance is committed to supporting members who wish to stop smoking and/or using tobacco products. To achieve this, the Alliance offers members the Tobacco Cessation Support Program (TCSP). Services include: ● Referrals to the convenient, toll- free California Smokers’ Helpline at 800-NO-BUTTS (800-662-8887) and the toll-free California Vaping Helpline at 844-8-NO-VAPE (844-866-8273) , which provides free cessation counseling over the phone for anyone in California. ● If you have the Alliance as your primary insurance, we will cover the cost for you to attend an approved smoking cessation class in your area. ● We also cover stop-smoking aids such as nicotine gum or patches. ● We can send you easy-to-read brochures with tips to help you quit smoking and/or using tobacco products.