Reduce the use of commercial tobacco

Our historical commitment to commercial tobacco

Commercial tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability and death in the United States.

Because of this, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has for many years taken the lead to reduce the harms of commercial tobacco use in our state, by supporting community-driven efforts that raise awareness, shift cultural and social norms, and influence organizational and local public policy. Blue Cross acknowledges and honors the use of traditional tobacco which has been used for spiritual and medicinal purposes by Indigenous people for generations. Commercial tobacco refers specifically to the use of manufactured tobacco products that are sold for a profit.

In the early 1990s, Blue Cross joined the State of Minnesota as a co-plaintiff in landmark litigation against the tobacco industry. In 2006, Blue Cross received settlement funds from that litigation and committed to reinvest $241 million into Minnesota communities most impacted by poor health outcomes.

We have stayed true to this commitment for more than 25 years, investing a significant portion of settlement funds to reduce commercial tobacco use across the state. Blue Cross played an instrumental role in passing the Freedom to Breathe amendment to the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act in 2007, which protects employees and the public from the health hazards of secondhand smoke.

Blue Cross also supported the passage of Tobacco 21, which raised the sale age of commercial tobacco products from 18 to 21. Currently, we are advocating to eliminate the sale of menthol and flavored commercial tobacco products, which are driving the state’s youth commercial tobacco crisis and overall negative tobacco-related health outcomes.

Our targeted investments in organizations have also made an impact.

From 2015–2018, Blue Cross funded the CETI initiative, which supported community-driven efforts to raise awareness, shift cultural/social norms and/or influence organizational and local public policy. Funded organizations and Tribal Nations included:

• American Lung Association in Minnesota
• Briva Health
• Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)
• Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
• Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative
• Lower Sioux Indian Community
• NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.
• WellShare International

From 2020–2023, Blue Cross funded Health POWER, a multi-year funding initiative designed to strengthen leadership development and invest in community-led solutions to advance positive health outcomes in commercial tobacco control, healthy eating, and physical activity.

Health POWER funded organizations focused on using policy, systems, and environmental changes to create sustainable conditions that allow people to make healthier choices. Funded organizations and Tribal Nations included:

• American Lung Association in Minnesota
• Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR)
• Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES)
• FamilyWise Services
• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative
• Lower Sioux Indian Community
• NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc.

Throughout the years, our commitment to commercial tobacco control has stood strong.

We continue to support and advocate for legislation that keeps Minnesotans safe from the harms of commercial tobacco, commission cost of smoking reports that highlight the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address smoking-related health issues in Minnesota, and fund community organizations that share our goal of eliminating and reducing the harms of commercial tobacco.

We will continue to do the work that needs to be done to keep Minnesotans safe and healthy.

Below are links to our current major efforts.