Colorado insurance alert urges smokers to quit

Colorado insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar is urging people to take advantage of smoking cessation programs at no cost through plans under the country’s new health-care law.

Salazar issued a consumer alert Thursday to raise public awareness about available help to stop smoking. She notes that plans compliant with the Affordable Care Act cover counseling and medications for free.

She says it’s a benefit that’s been available since 2012, but she’s trying to get more people to know about it. A consumer alert means the state’s division of insurance will publicize the information online and ask health-insurance companies to post the details on their websites.

Salazar made the announcement to mark the annual “Great American Smokeout,” which urges smokers to make a plan to stop.