Public Square: A word from a pissed-off smoker

I've been a smoker for 12 years and with the birth of my son last week I've decided I need to quit. I discovered in the hospital that the nicotine patch really helped with my cravings and that if I used that to quit I would most likely be successful. My insurance does not cover "the patch," so I've been looking on-line for other assistance in quitting smoking. I figured with all the tax money I've paid the State of Ohio for the past 12 years through my addiction, and the fact that there is a campaign to make Ohio "smoke free," that there should be some assistance available to me. I was VERY disappointed...