Tobacco Control Policies Specified According to Socioeconomic Status: Health Disparities and Cost-Effectiveness

Abstract

The reimbursement policy produced the greatest overall health gain. Surprisingly, neither tax increase nor reimbursement reduced health disparities. Differences in use were too small to compensate for improved health gains per quitter among higher-SES groups. Both policies qualified as cost-effective overall, with more favorable cost-effectiveness ratios for high-SES than for low-SES groups.