Leidos Employees Who Smoke or Vape Investigation

Leidos Employees Who Smoke or Vape Investigation

By Steve Levine

Open Class Action Investigation

Image Credit: Unsplash | Published: September 17, 2025


What is the Leidos Healthcare Surcharges Investigation?

The review focuses on whether Leidos employees who smoke or vape were charged additional health insurance fees, sometimes called smoker surcharges or nicotine surcharges, and whether those charges complied with applicable laws and plan rules.

Who May Be Eligible for Compensation?

You currently work or previously worked for Leidos in the last six years (2020 - 2025), you smoked or vaped during employment, and you received employer sponsored health insurance. Eligibility can vary based on plan terms and state law.

How Much Compensation Might Be Available?

Possible reimbursement of certain surcharges or related out of pocket costs if rules were violated. No results are guaranteed. Each submission is reviewed on its own facts.

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How Do I Pre-Qualify?

Use the form below to share your details. You can submit without documents now. If available, upload pay stubs or benefits statements that show a smoker or nicotine surcharge.

Is there a Deadline to File a Claim?

This investigation is open. There is no court approved claim deadline at this time. If a lawsuit or settlement is announced, timelines may change.

Can Employers Charge Higher Healthcare Fees for Smokers or Vapers?

Yes, under federal law employers can charge higher health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco, but only within certain limits. The Affordable Care Act allows insurers to apply up to a 50% surcharge on tobacco users, though some states have stricter rules or bans on these surcharges.

Are Smoker/Vaping Surchages even Legal Under Law?

Smoker surcharges are legal under federal law if they comply with the Affordable Care Act's ("Obamacare" or the "ACA") wellness program provisions. Employers must offer a reasonable alternative program to help employees quit smoking, such as counseling or nicotine replacement therapy, in order for the surcharge to be valid.

What is Leidos?

Leidos is a publicly traded American technology and defense company headquartered in Reston, Virginia. It provides solutions in national security, digital modernization, and health for government and commercial clients.

Today, Leidos employs about 47,000 to 48,000 people worldwide and reports annual revenues in the mid to high teens in billions. The company trades on the NYSE under the ticker LDOS and is led by CEO Thomas Bell.

Do Company or Healthcare Insurance Wellness Programs Permit Nicotine Testing?

Yes, many employer wellness programs use nicotine or cotinine testing to verify whether an employee uses tobacco products. These tests are typically required if the health plan charges a smoker surcharge or offers a discount to non-smokers. Employees must also be given a chance to qualify for the benefit by completing an alternative program.

Do Any States Limit Smoker Healthcare Surcharge Fees for Employers?

Several states restrict or prohibit smoker surcharges on health insurance, including California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia. In these states, employers and insurers cannot impose higher premiums based solely on tobacco use.

How Do I Know if I was Charged a Smoker or Vaping Surcharge?

You can check your pay stubs, health plan enrollment forms, or benefits statements to see if there is a line item for “tobacco surcharge” or “nicotine surcharge.” Sometimes these charges are included as higher monthly health insurance premiums compared to non-smokers. HR or benefits department emails may also explain when and why the surcharge was applied.

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Sources

Join Class Actions — Leidos employees who smoke
Leidos — Company overview
Leidos investor news — employees and revenue
DOL — HIPAA and ACA wellness program guidance
NCBI — State policies limiting tobacco premium surcharges
KFF — Tobacco surcharge rules overview

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Investigation Summary
Status Open Investigation
Potential Compensation Varies by case
Claim Deadline None announced
Who May Qualify Leidos employees within 6 years who smoked or vaped and had employer health insurance
What To Gather Pay stubs or benefits statements showing a smoker surcharge, plan documents, HR emails
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