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At medpage today studies reveal that cigarette smoking has costs beyond those suffered by the smoker. In the workplace, the increase in sick days and in lowered performance costs employers a lot of money. But, that's nothing compared to the effect that smoking has on health insurance coverage and costs.

According to the article, "smokers take an average of nearly eight more sick days annually than their non-smoking co-workers," accounting for 42% of all sick days taken. This could theoretically cost employers and business millions a year.

But compare that to the costs of cigarette smoking in healthcare. Smoking costs the US up to $167 billion, every year. $75 billion of that in direct medical expenses, with the rest in lost productivity from ill patients missing work. That's more than $3,400 a year for health insurance coverage and lost productivity each smoker!

And while smokers pay around $5 a pack, that same pack of cigarettes costs society $40. Yep, for each pack of cigarettes sold in America we pay $40 in healthcare costs.

So while cigarette smoking definitely has an impact on the workplace, it's in our ever rising health insurance coverage premiums that the real money is lost.