Paying more for health insurance if you're fat

[DanS]

This is a sign of things to come, what with the government now paying for an increasingly large proportion of basic health care.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama, pushed to second in national obesity rankings by deep-fried Southern favorites, is cracking down on state workers who are too fat.
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The state has given its 37,527 employees a year to start getting fit — or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.

Alabama will be the first state to charge overweight state workers who don't work on slimming down, while a handful of other states reward employees who adopt healthy behaviors.

Alabama already charges workers who smoke — and has seen some success in getting them to quit — but now has turned its attention to a problem that plagues many in the Deep South: obesity.

Continued...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080822/ap_on_bi_ge/obesity_penalty

[Hercules]

Drastic measure indeed, but probably worth it.

[Jon Miller]

Honestly, I totally agree with this.

I know that a lot of my health problems went away when I dropped 50 lbs, and I wasn't near as heavy as a lot of people are in the first place. People who are obese or who don't do any exercise should pay more for health insurance than those of us who spend the effort (and money) to take care of ourselves.

JM

[Seedle]

Hmm, interesting question. On the one hand, obese people tend to have more health problems, therefore cost more for health insurance. On the other hand, obesity is not always 100% the obese person's fault, often it is a medical problem in itself. In those cases, the insurance should be paying for treatment, not charging more.

And on the the not 100% their fault thing: you take a group of people, and feed them the same diet, and have them undertake identical activities for a year, some will end up lighter, some will end up heavier. Doesn't mean that the heavier ones can't do anything to deal with their propensity for weight gain, and it doesn't mean the lighter ones can't make themselves fat by doing stupid stuff, but blaming obesity 100% on the person generally is incorrect.

Also this: Half of overweight adults may be healthy

[asleepathewheel]

Probably a good idea. I'd rather there be incentives to join gyms or some such, but ultimately, I guess you can't do much other than hit them in the wallet.

I do get concerned about where this all heads. Drinking 10 beers a week=increased rates? People who contract std's=higher rates? What about people who own motorcycles or play backyard football?

ala carte insurance? 25$ extra per month to pay for sports injuries?

[Hueij]

Poll: Paying more for health insurance if you drive a car.
Poll: Paying more for health insurance if you do sports.
Poll: Paying more for health insurance if you live in the inner city.
Poll: Paying more for health insurance if you ...

Most stupid thing I have ever heard.

[Lancer]

It should be tied to the acruary tables like everything else. So, they should pay more, but no more than the increase in risk.

Btw, if you voted 'no' on this poll, its time for a diet.

[snoopy369]

I think that it is a very poor idea to begin tieing health insurance rates to health factors. Certainly it's "fair", but any time I hear the word "fair" in politics I look a second time for who they're trying to screw out of something - as that's about the only time it's ever used.

Where this leads is, as Hueij notes, paying more for everything else; and it's not going to be EVERYTHING else, just the things they think they can make more money off of - and I have a feeling it's going to be inner city/poor rural focused. More in the inner city, more if you eat at McD's ...

[SlowwHand]

Paying more if you smoke.

All the things listed shorten a life. I may not like it, but if I don't like it enough, I won't do it.

[Provost Harrison]

Nationalised healthcare, free at the point of use

[ZEE]

Sweet home Alabama

GO TIDE!!

[Kuciwalker]

I think that it is a very poor idea to begin tying health insurance rates to health factors.

....

[Dinner]

The best thing would be to cover everyone and then run public health campaigns to convince people to choose healthier lifestyles.

[Theben]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Nationalised healthcare, free at the point of use

An ounce of prevention...

[SlowwHand]

Tell me who it is here that lives the perfect lifestyle. I really want to shake their hand. Good luck.