OTHER NEWS - Oct. 16, 1996

Firm Wants Smokers to Pay More for Insurance: Nonunion salaried employees of United Technologies Corp. who smoke are being told to pay an additional $500 each year for their medical insurance. However, the program taking effect Jan. 1 is based on the honor system. Workers at Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Standard and other divisions of United Technologies were told to tell insurance administrators if they smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes. There are no provisions to force anyone to volunteer for the added expense, said Martin Moore, a spokesman for the Hartford, Conn.-based defense contractor. The company cited statistics indicating that a smoker costs at least $1,000 more each year in medical benefits than a nonsmoker.