Medical · Tobacco/nicotine

Do I pay more if I use tobacco/nicotine?

Tobacco/nicotine-free, or $15 a pay period.

A surcharge if you, or your spouse or domestic partner, are on a Hormel Foods medical plan and used tobacco/nicotine in the past 90 days: cigarettes, vaping, pipes, cigars, chew or snuff. Your current answer rolls into 2027 unless you change it.

Will I pay the tobacco/nicotine surcharge?

What it costs

Neither of you uses it

No surcharge.

You do

$15 per pay period

Your spouse or partner does

$15 per pay period

You both do

$30 per pay period

To get help quitting and avoid

1
Attest in Oracle
That you, and your spouse or partner if covered, are tobacco/nicotine free.
2
Complete the Freedom From Smoking® program
The American Lung Association’s free program, by December 31, 2026. Email each certificate to hrsolutioncenter@hormel.com.

For open enrollment, complete the cessation program by December 31, 2026. The program is open year-round for new hires and life events. Outside open enrollment, participants have 60 days to complete the cessation program.

To get help quitting and avoid a tobacco/nicotine surcharge, you can enroll and complete the free American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking™ program. You will need to email your completion certificate to the HR Solution Center by December 31, 2026. Review your Wellness Program plan document for details or contact the Horizon Solution Center at 866-449-7712 or HRSolutionCenter@hormel.com.

Your health plan is committed to helping you achieve your best health. Rewards for participating in a wellness program are available to all employees. If you think you might be unable to meet a standard for avoidance of the surcharge under this wellness program, you may qualify for an opportunity to earn the same reward by different means. Contact us at HRSolutionCenter@hormel.com, and we will work with you (and, if you wish, with your doctor) to find a wellness program with the same reward that is right for you in light of your health status.

Register for Freedom From Smoking

Scan the QR code or open the registration link.

Do this

Check your answer in Oracle by 5 p.m. Central on November 16, 2026.

More about this benefit

Tell Hormel Foods whether you, and your spouse or domestic partner, use tobacco/nicotine. Your answer decides whether a medical-plan surcharge applies.

What is changing for 2027

This is a passive enrollment. Tobacco/nicotine attestations completed for the 2026 plan year carry forward to 2027 unless you change them during Open Enrollment.

If you attested in 2026 that you are a Non-Tobacco/Nicotine User, that status carries forward to 2027 unless you submit a new attestation.
If you attested in 2026 that you are a Tobacco/Nicotine User, that status carries forward to 2027 unless you submit a new attestation.
If no attestation is on file, you and/or your spouse/domestic partner default to Tobacco/Nicotine User status.

Definitions

Non-Tobacco/Nicotine User: an individual who has not used any tobacco/nicotine product in the past 90 days. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes; e-cigarettes or vaping devices; pipes or cigars; chewing tobacco or snuff; and any other smoking or smokeless tobacco/nicotine product.
Tobacco/Nicotine User: an individual who has used any tobacco/nicotine product within the past 90 days.

Even if you are not enrolled in medical

Hormel Foods highly recommends completing the attestation even if you are not currently enrolled in a medical plan. If you do not attest during your initial enrollment period, you are automatically marked as a tobacco/nicotine user, but you can attest during any mid-year life event.

How to avoid the surcharge

To avoid up to a $30 per pay period surcharge, you must either:

1
Attest in Oracle that you and your spouse/domestic partner (if applicable) are tobacco/nicotine-free, or
2
If either of you uses tobacco/nicotine, each user must register for and complete the American Lung Association’s free cessation program, Freedom From Smoking®, by December 31, 2026.¹
3
You are responsible for submitting certificates of completion for yourself and your spouse/domestic partner. Email them to hrsolutioncenter@hormel.com.

¹ Notice regarding Reasonable Alternative Standard

If you or your Spouse’s/Domestic Partner’s physician determines that quitting Tobacco/Nicotine or completing the American Lung Association’s free cessation program (Freedom From Smoking®) is not medically appropriate for you and your Spouse/Domestic Partner (if applicable), we will provide a reasonable alternative standard that accommodates the recommendations of your physician with regard to medical appropriateness. Contact hrsolutioncenter@hormel.com for further information.

Where this page comes from

This overview reflects the attestation wording supplied on January 23, 2026 and the 2027 changes supplied on August 6, 2026. Your Oracle enrollment is the official record.

Next step

Log in to Oracle and review your tobacco/nicotine attestation in your benefit enrollment. To change it for 2027, attest by 5 p.m. Central on November 16, 2026.

Who to call

Questions? Horizon Solution Center · (866) 449-7712