Quit Help and Information

The nicotine in cigarettes, vapor products, and other tobacco products is highly addictive. Visit Nicotine is Why Tobacco Products are Addictive for more information.

Quitting tobacco and nicotine can be hard but help from your health care provider can help you quit for good.1 Medicaid, Medicare, and other health insurance plans cover treatment from your health care provider, including brief counseling and FDA-approved medications that help you manage symptoms from nicotine withdrawal. Talk to your health care provider about treatment that might be right for you.

Quit Assistance for People Enrolled in Medicaid

Medicaid pays for quit-smoking treatment delivered by your health care provider.

Medicaid covers quit counseling and all seven smoking cessation medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

  • five nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) – patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, and nasal spray
  • two non-nicotine oral medications (pills) – bupropion SR (brand names Zyban or Wellbutrin) and varenicline (brand name Chantix)

Medicaid and some health plans cover the use of two medications at once (combination therapy), which is safe for most people.2 Using two medications as prescribed by your provider can be more helpful in reducing cravings and other withdrawal symptoms.2

Medicaid pays for over-the-counter nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges with a fiscal order (like a prescription) from your provider. Because it may take you more than one try to quit, Medicaid covers repeated treatment by your provider.

Visit New York State Medicaid for information on applying for NY Medicaid and for information for Medicaid Members.

Medicaid members can find information on quit medications at NYRx Information for Medicaid Members.

The New York State Quitline

The New York State Smokers' Quitline provides information, printed materials, and expert quit coaching by phone, text, or online chat. Eligible New Yorkers who smoke cigarettes or vape tobacco or nicotine can also receive free starter kits of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Call, text, or visit the free and confidential New York State Smokers' Quitline at 1-866-NYQUITS (1-866-697-8487), text (716) 309-4688, or visit online at https://www.nysmokefree.com/ to chat and for information and support in breaking free from tobacco and nicotine.

For more help and information on quitting smoking:

Drop The Vape – Text-Based Quit Vaping Program for Youth and Young Adults

Drop the Vape is a New York State-specific free and anonymous text messaging program, designed by the Truth Initiative®, and created with input from teens, college students, and young adults who have attempted to, or successfully, quit vaping.

New York State youth, ages 13-17, and young adults, ages 18-24, can text DropTheVape to 88709 to sign up to receive age-appropriate supportive and motivating text messages to support quit efforts. Enrollees in the program receive interactive daily text messages tailored to their sign-up date or their target quit date if they set one. Those without a quit date receive messages for at least one month. Program users who set a quit date (which they can change) receive messages for at least one week prior to the quit date and for at least two months following the quit date. Drop the Vape also directs users to the New York State Quitline for free and confidential quit coaching via telephone, internet, and text, and free starter kits of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for eligible New Yorkers.

For more information on quitting vaping, visit Quit Vaping.

To order or download Drop the Vape posters, palm cards, and rack cards in English and Spanish, visit the Publication Catalog and click on "S" for Smoking, Vaping, and Commercial Tobacco Use, "T" for Tobacco Use, or "V" for Vaping Tobacco and Nicotine in the index to view the available materials and publication numbers. Scroll to the top of the page and click on the blue "Order Publications" box for ordering information and to complete the order form.

Smoking Cessation Education Posters to Download

Reference:

  1. Fiore MC, Jaén CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. April 2009.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips From Former Smokers®. Five New Ways to Quit With Medicines. Last Reviewed: November 28, 2022.