Quit medicines and insurance

Quit medicines like patches, gum, or lozenges can help you quit for good. There are many ways to get medicines for free or low cost.

What are quit medicines?

Quit medicines can help you stop smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco or nicotine products.           

  • Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) helps you with cravings by giving your body a small, steady amount of nicotine
    • NRT includes the nicotine patch, gum, and lozenge, which are available without a prescription. A nasal spray is also available with a prescription
  • Bupropion and varenicline (Chantix) are pills (non-nicotine medicines) that can help with cravings and other withdrawal symptoms. Your healthcare provider must prescribe these medicines.

If you have questions about how to take your NRT or prescription medicine, call your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or 1-800-QUIT-NOW

How to get quit medicines

You may be eligible to get NRT for FREE by:

  • Speaking with a coach through 1-800-QUIT-NOW and getting NRT delivered to your door.
  • Going through your health insurance plan with a prescription from your healthcare provider.

You can also buy NRT (patch, gum, and lozenge) in most pharmacies.

More on health insurance

Your health insurance should cover the cost of at least one prescription medicine for quitting tobacco or nicotine.

MassHealth covers all FDA-approved stop-smoking medicines for as many times as you need. Coaching services are also covered.

Call the member information number on your health insurance plan card to find out what products your plan covers, for how long, and if you will have to pay anything.

You may also want to find out if your health insurance covers one-on-one or group counseling/coaching support. Talk to your provider or call your health plan to find out. Ask about how many sessions are covered and if you will have to pay anything. Quit coaches through 1-800-QUIT-NOW are FREE.

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback