IRON MOUNTAIN -- If quitting smoking is one of your New Year's resolutions a new study may provide additional motivation to stop.
A recent report from eHealth, an online private health insurance exchange, says smokers in the U.S. face higher monthly premiums for their individual health insurance.
The report shows female smokers pay a 22 percent higher premium while men pay a 13 percent higher monthly premium than non-smoking men and women.
Overall, smokers pay a 14 percent higher average monthly premium than non-smokers.
Iron Mountain resident Bob Ramels explains he isn’t surprised "considering the health risks and a person's likelihood of illness" associated with smoking.
The report came from over 275,000 individual medical policies purchased through eHealth insurance from February of 2012.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC