A: Resources available to help you quit tobacco include:

A: The tobacco cessation benefits apply to all tobacco users including smokeless products.

A: Yes. Nicotine replacement therapy medications (gum, lozenges, and patches) are available free through your medical plan. Click here for more information.

Agreement employees register for your medical plan's tobacco cessation program.

Nonagreement employees are covered under their pharmacy plan (CVS/Caremark). You need a prescription, even for the over-the-counter NRTS. (IRS rules, not ours.) All tobacco cessation medications should ring up at no cost to you.

A: Keep in mind that some prescription medications are illegal for people in safety-sensitive jobs. Discuss with your doctor if prescription medication might help you quit.

Agreement employees register for your medical plan's tobacco cessation program:

Aetna 866-213-0153
Highmark BCBS 800-650-8442
UHC 877-201-4840

Nonagreement employees are covered under their pharmacy plan (CVS/Caremark). You need a prescription, even for the over-the-counter NRTS. (IRS rules, not ours.) All tobacco cessation medications should ring up at no cost to you.

A: No. These devises fall under the Norfolk Southern "No Smoking" policy.

A: No. These have not been approved by the FDA and are not regulated.

A: Smoking is not permitted in any office facility, including Norfolk Southern's General Offices in Roanoke, Atlanta and Norfolk, yard offices, agencies, division offices, sales offices, and offices within shop facilities, classrooms and offices in Norfolk Southern's Technical Training Center, meeting rooms and company-sponsored meetings held off the property, company vehicles or company-provided vehicles, locomotive engine cabs and cabooses, sleeping cars or trailers, office cars, dining cars, camp cars, or dormitories, locker rooms, restrooms, lunch rooms or tool rooms , Norfolk Southern aircraft, shop facilities (including non-office work areas).

A: NS offers Weight Watchers at a reduced rate to employees and spouses for Monthly Pass, WW Online, and At Work series. Click here for pricing and more information.

Activity is an important component of losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. You may be interested in joining a gym facility through our partners at Global Fit, where NS employees are offered a discounted rate. Click here for more information.

A: No. Weight Watchers was chosen because it does not require the use of branded meals or supplements. Weight Watchers is very flexible in terms of what you can eat, which sets you up for long-term success. Their focus is teaching you how to eat healthier and incorporate activity into your lifestyle.

A: Medical coverage is outside the scope of the WellNS program, but many medical plans have programs to assist with weight loss as a means to control or improve chronic medical conditions. Contact your medical provider to see what options may be available for you. Agreement employees should click here to find more discount options that are available through their medical plan providers.

A: The WellNS program is working with our national vending provider to bring healthier options to the local vending machines. We have asked them to stock healthier options in 20 percent of the slots in the vending machines and to price these options lower than unhealthy options. We are hearing that these changes are not happening consistently.

Local managers are encouraged to work with vendors to offer healthier choices in vending machines. Share what employees are most interested it. In the end, they want to stock what will sell, and unfortunately honeybuns sell. If you need assistance, you can Email WellNS@nscorp.com

A: Norfolk Southern subsidizes 50percent of the cost of select Weight Watchers programs. The IRS views this subsidy amount as taxable income. You will see appropriate taxes withheld within one to two months of registering for a Weight Watchers program.

A: Active Norfolk Southern employees and spouses are eligible for the Weight Watchers subsidy.

A: To register for Weight Watchers call 866-237-4144 or click here for detailed program information.

A: You are free to use any Weight Watchers location in your area. It may be necessary in "franchise" locations to pay fees up front and then submit a reimbursement form to get 50 percent of the cost refunded.

A: In "franchise" areas you have to pay the full fee then submit a reimbursement form for a 50 percent refund.

A: If you have a group of at least 20 paying participants, Email WellNS@nscorp.com for details on how to start an At Work program.

A: Talk to the meeting leader to find out how payment is accepted. Most At Work meeting groups now accept a WW Monthly Pass. If so, you simply purchase a monthly pass by calling the NS Weight Watchers line 866-237-4144.

A: Health screenings can be requested for large events where at least 50 Norfolk Southern employees commit to getting a health screening. Email wellns@nscorp.com at least six weeks in advance. Provide event details including number of employees, date, location, and time preference.

A: No one. Federal privacy laws included in HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) prohibit NS from seeing individual results.

A: No, but WellNS has a partnership with GlobalFit, bringing you access to over 9,000 fitness facilities. Please see Discount Programs for more information.

A: No. Agreement employees may be eligible for discounts through their medical plan. To learn more, click here.

A: The WellNS program is not able to pay fees such as those for employee sports teams or event entry fees. However, our new expanded PowerTrain program will donate up to $2,000 to a qualified non-profit organization with a health focus when a team of up to 20 NS employees completes an activity event for that organization. Click here for more information.

Please email your name, employee identification number and employment start date to wellns@nscorp.com. Also include any facts such as recent name changes or recent return to work date. A WellNS representative will check your eligibility and assist you in registering.

A: The Power Train Program is designed to encourage employees to get active with their co-workers in order to earn a donation to a qualifying charity. Start by forming a team of 10 (or more) NS employees who train for and complete an activity-based event that benefits a qualifying nonprofit organization. If approved, WellNS will donate $1,000 to that charity in honor of the team after receiving a photo of the team at the event. Team members receive a WellNS T-shirt to wear to the event.

A: Click here then click the NS Power Train Program link for program details and the application.

A: It needs to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission has a disease focus. Examples include the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, MS Society, ALS Association, and Autism Speaks. The event should be sponsored by the nonprofit with all donations going directly to the nonprofit. Refer to the Power Train Overview on the WellNS website for rules and instructions. If you still have questions email them to wellns@nscorp.com.

A: Yes. Once your team has met the 10 NS employee minimum participation, friends and family may participate on the team.

A: No. You are required to participate in a professionally organized event that is sponsored by an approved nonprofit organization. The event should require roughly 45 minutes of moderate activity (or more).

A: The organization should be able to provide a letter verifying their tax status.

A: Not at this time. Instead, we continue to focus on negotiating discounted rates with local gyms and offering flexible fitness classes at different NS locations. For example, at the McKinnon Building in Norfolk, we offer lunchtime and evening workout classes through Jim White Fitness. Similar classes occur at the Goode Building in Atlanta, and in Roanoke.

A: Contact us at wellns@nscorp.com. We would love to hear what has worked for you. WellNS success stories feature Norfolk Southern employees who have made meaningful lifestyle changes toward better health and well-being. Do you have a story to tell?

A: WellNS programs and services are designed for adults. Most programs are available to employees and spouses. While children are not eligible, you can be a role model for them by being active, eating healthy and not using tobacco.