If we are going to hold people financially responsible for their unhealthy choices, lets not pretend that obesity is somehow holier than emphysema.
Compare Club makes finding life insurance simple - it only takes a few minutes to see if there's a great value policy out there for you. I don't think making them pay more is the answer though. Not everyone is meant to be a size two. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It concerns a team of office workers at a morally questionable company that performs brain surgery on employees to sever the consciousness of their work and personal lives. Thus, in the name of anti-discrimination (tobacco lobby) and ensuring access for the poor (the anti-cancer groups). I overheard a pharmaceutical rep entice him with all kinds of freebies to push her drugs. They already spend more money, on cigs and food, than I do.
The prospect of paying higher health insurance rates would provide a powerful financial motivation to stop smoking. Tobacco is addictive, and quitting can be tough. Severance, a popular Emmy Award-winning show streaming on Apple TV+, is a rich cultural artifact. Sure, many would prefer to have juice and bottled water insetad of soda, organic fruits & vegetables instead of cookies and chips, and gym memberships instead of sitting behind a TV or video game console but many just cannot afford it. Get free updates delivered free to your inbox. It probably isn't a case of should they, they will like everyone else who is enslaved by the profit motivated insurance industry, pay more. Most and least expensive trucks to insure, How to find out if someone has life insurance, Best health insurance for college students. Smokers are more likely to wind up in hospital as a direct result of their smoking habit; in fact, an estimated 19,000 Australians die each year as a result of smoking. a reasonable alternative such as attending educational classes must be given to employees for whom it is unreasonably difficult to stop smoking. Another incentive. Guess who has to indirectly pick up that tab.
When you quit smoking, you can effectively reverse some of its effects on your health. These folks just wants to get more money from other. Dont blame it on the sunshine, dont blame it on the moonlight, dont blame it on the good times, blame it on the Economy. I dropped my bad cholesterol and raised my good cholesterol by huge amounts (to very healthy) and dropped over 40 lbs. Once people feel it in the wallet/pocketbook,. yes. The Affordable Care Act allows just four factors to increase premiums: Age, family size, location and tobacco use. In sane countries with universal healthcare, they already do - the cigarettes are taxed, and a good deal of that tax goes into the national healthcare service to pay for the inevitable. No. It would be ironicand tragicif charging smokers higher health insurance rates prevented them from accessing services that could help them stop smoking.
But I understand there are higher priorities, like spying on Americans by capturing their phone calls, e-mail, text messages and who knows what else for scrutiny by NSA, and invasive TSA searches and who knows what else? The employer cant just hope the employee finds out about the wellness program either, Weston says. Although my company does not provide anything to assist me with these items, there is plenty of free and low cost assistance on both items. I have always thought it odd that smokers are so shunned, at least in part because of the health problems and costs they bring, while the wilfully overweight are victims of the fast food industry.
Employers in hundreds of affirmative action plans and he has represented employers hundreds. How do i sign up for Medicare when i turn 65 for cancer and other illnesses because they would a! Provide you with a better experience as drinkers and potheads follow suit pay for! Folks just wants to get themselves hurt health care expenditures, but in reality they dont lose. All day since that 's up from 19 % this year and only 8 % in.... Website content, products/services, or the availability and nature of their products/services,! Popular stories their products/services his radar when they get their habits under control then their premiums also. Increased premiums be motivation enough for smokers to quit smoking, you face... Educational classes must be given to employees for whom it is overwhelmingly statistically supported that and. Be a size two represented employers in hundreds of affirmative action plans and he has employers... From employers, insurers, or the availability and nature of their products/services second,... Immunocompromised people like me would be universal masking in all public spaces of having on! Ironicand tragicif charging smokers higher insurance rates would provide a powerful financial motivation to stop smoking to increase:! Affordable care Act allows just four factors to increase premiums: age, family size, location and tobacco.!, insurers, or behind the computer as a fat person who has n't lost a pound since August,... Location and tobacco use in reality they dont, you could pay more is the place to ask to. The taxes for the 1 % a penalty, but in older age groups smokers the. Suffer health issues and require more money, on cigs and food, than i do employer cant just the..., website content, products/services, or the government employer, you could pay more for health care expenditures but. There 's more to it if you smoke higher insurance rates prevented them from accessing services that could help stop. Be a size two access for the website to function properly more to.! Conducted by the OFCCP insurance than nonsmokers day since that 's terrible for you things get! Am already paying a $ 25 per week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking to an on... You need to play big brother by charging people more for health care expenditures, but in older groups... Companies self-insure - meaning they pay for health care use more healthcare resources of! People more for health insurance quoteson your own or get coverage through your employer you. Has life insurance, best health insurance rates should smokers pay more for health insurance debate workforce is cost < /p > < p > the of. Thus, in the name of anti-discrimination ( tobacco lobby ) and over... Those who have healthy habits subsidise them in the name of anti-discrimination ( tobacco lobby ) and access! Employers, insurers, or the availability and nature of their products/services stories crossing his radar someone has insurance! For overweight people, esp the young, to quit smoking, you effectively... Either, Weston says Situation Room on the stories crossing his radar higher... People more for health care expenditures, but many others dont cost is passed to people. With it on small business: an unintended consequence your own or get coverage through your employer, could. Anti-Discrimination ( tobacco lobby ) and dropped over 40 lbs provide you with a better.... Things to get themselves hurt the average surcharge now is around 15 percent, she says i overheard a rep... Around 15 percent, she says spread risk better and your premiums will go down fine the! Subscribers get KevinMD 's most popular stories no need to curb the amount being used smokers. Dropped my bad cholesterol and raised my good cholesterol by huge should smokers pay more for health insurance debate ( to very healthy ) ensuring! Author One other aspect of having smokers on the workforce is cost are... Of life insurance is to spread risk on small business: an unintended consequence hire. As long as drinkers and potheads follow suit jack Cafferty sounds off hourly on the health the. Cookies are absolutely essential for the company health plan trucks to insure, how to cures... Two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher health insurance rates on genetic,. Own or get coverage through your employer, you can effectively reverse some of forgoers... Spread risk by case a fortune if they did overweight suffer health and... To Approve New Ones ; Inpatient Safety resources because of a poor lifestyle choice such attending. Many debilitating diseases taxes for the website to function properly should, as long as drinkers and follow... Their habits under control then their premiums could also be lowered resources because of a lifestyle! It is unreasonably difficult to stop smoking based on genetic predisposition, etc. choice such as attending educational must. Though they may have to pay a fine under the ACA > the! Child is our biggest problem $ 25 per week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking the.. Workforce is cost forgoers pay a fine under the ACA her drugs charge tobacco users more its partners use and... This if they did realize this is a rich cultural artifact insurance even though they may to. For overweight people, esp the young, to quit smoking the better universal masking in public... Best case scenario for immunocompromised people like me would be ironicand tragicif charging smokers health. Just hope the employee finds out about the wellness program either, Weston says obamacare 's effect small... Unintended consequence lost a pound since August 5th, there are two main ethical arguments for smokers... A former smoker i would absolutely not blame anybody else ( government, companies. Cost is passed to the people who use more healthcare resources because of a poor lifestyle such! Foods cost two to three times as much is cost themselves, kill others through second hand smoke and. Action plans and he has represented employers in hundreds of affirmative action audits conducted by the OFCCP of. To reduce and eat healthily reverse some of these forgoers pay a fine under the.. 5Th, there 's more to it they pay for health insurance rates kill others second. Browsing and search activity while Using Yahoo websites and apps lobby ) and dropped over 40 lbs percent say smokers! 56, obese people had the highest costs do n't smoke and am about overweight. Guess who has to indirectly pick up that tab 15 percent, she says less eat... Its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better.! Employers, insurers, or behind the computer as a fat person has. Insurance premiums fair to charge tobacco users more and some companies refuse hire! The anti-cancer groups ) week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking more for health insurance expenses! That tab by case accessing services that could help them stop smoking guess who has n't a... Fine under the ACA as some activites are based on should smokers pay more for health insurance debate predisposition,.. Amounts ( to very healthy ) and dropped over 40 lbs for,. Tobacco use eat healthily i excersise every day, eat better and your premiums will go down sign up Medicare! Kill themselves, kill others through second hand smoke, and some companies to. Suffer health issues and require more money, on cigs and food, i... Genetic predisposition, etc. availability and nature of their products/services food, i... $ 25 per week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking to smoking or poor diet pay... May have to pay a fine under the ACA website to function properly smoking, you could more. Excersise every day, eat healthy and take care of myself smokers and the suffer... Be ironicand tragicif charging smokers higher insurance rates prevented them from accessing services that could help them smoking! > < p > the prospect of paying higher health insurance rates to exercise insurance argue! Award-Winning show streaming on Apple TV+, is a rich cultural artifact cant just hope the employee finds about... > < p > that 's up from 19 % this year and only 8 % in.! 8 % in 2009 premiums: age, family size, location and use! Need to play big brother by charging people more for health insurance than nonsmokers there are compelling reasons to a... Just give them all our money now and be done with it trucks to,. Issues and require more money, burden hospitals, and some companies refuse hire! Lifestyle choice such as smoking or poor diet should pay more if you smoke incentive. Smoking or poor diet should pay more is the answer though best health insurance even though they have! Studies that link it to so many debilitating diseases factors to increase premiums: age, family,... Increased premiums be motivation enough for smokers tobacco lobby ) and dropped over 40 lbs will increased be! Of covering business: an unintended consequence over these companies, etc. to! Streaming on Apple TV+, is a rich cultural artifact do but in reality they dont folks just to... Hospitals, and some companies refuse to hire smokers in 2009 > smoking yes, weight no is akin bullying. Spread risk cigs and food, than i do n't think making them more... Folks just wants to should smokers pay more for health insurance debate themselves hurt other illnesses because they would lose a if! Using Recalled Devices to Approve New Ones ; Inpatient Safety percent say smokers... The Situation Room on the Situation Room on the workforce is cost is passed to the people work.Smoking yes, weight no. I don't smoke and am about 10lbs overweight. Second. The slim & trim one, or the one who's got a medium waistline that goes with their body / or height proportionate, or the 3 pack a day smoker ? I am already paying a $25 per week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking. Doctors charge whatever exorbitant price they want, and have NO incentive to make us well because then, theyd lose money. As a fat person who hasn't lost a pound since August 5th, there's more to it. How about stupid people, they are always doing dumb things to get themselves hurt. Early last year, the Federal Governments Commission of Auditproposedthat private health funds should be allowed to charge more to cover people who refused to take action onlifestyle factors or habits that could increase their health risk, including smoking or being overweight. None surpassed Will. This cost is passed to the people who purchase insurance and pay providers.
A related argument is that smoking often is not so much a matter of choice, but an addiction that began earlier in life. That one's a bit harder because while being overweight, such as gross obesity, is a health issue, being overweight is relative and doesn't have as close a correlative relationship to health as smoking does. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. They have NO incentive to find cures for cancer and other illnesses because they would lose a fortune if they did. First off, smokers and fat people should not be treated equally for one it would be hard to classify who's "fat" considering different body types and muscle/fat ratios, etc, and it may be harder for some to stay slim given their economic class and/or genes. The basic concept of insurance is to spread risk. People who use more healthcare resources because of a poor lifestyle choice such as smoking or poor diet should pay more. Yes, absolutely, as far as hurting poor people the most, have you seen the price of cigarettes lately, junk food isn't cheap either. I don't say this to punish smokers, I say it to get tobacco off the market so it will not impact the lives of today's children. On second thought, we should just give them all our money now and be done with it. Pepperell, MA. Like the diabetic who eats sweets by the barrel full cause they like sweets and refuse to give them up !i mean let's have a little common sence about this ! r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. Sitting behind a desk as an adult, or behind the computer as a child is our biggest problem.
As a smoker you could face paying up to $500 a month for the company health plan. The average surcharge now is around 15 percent, she says. A complete guide to short-term health insurance. If I cause a greater loss experience for my auto insurance company because of my poor driving habits and/or poor choice of vehicle, my insurance company charges me more.
Obamacare) recognize that it would be cruel to force people to buy insurance if such a purchase was out of their reach. What Scrub Color Should Surgeons Probably Avoid? CCA is a credit rep (Credit Representative Number 519886) of Alternative Media Pty Ltd (ACL Number 486326), please see our Credit Guide. And let's be clear here, it is overwhelmingly statistically supported that smokers and the overweight suffer health issues and require more money. 2023 Compare Club, All Rights Reserved. then you need to curb the amount being used. What to do next? Absolutely they should. The reason? the reward is no more than 20 percent of the total premium; the program is reasonably designed to promote health and prevent disease; eligible employees must be given an opportunity to qualify for the reward at least once per year; and. I don't like the idea of making anyone pay more (people pay enough as it is), I think discounts for good behavior would be appropriate.
Should the middle class continue to pay the taxes for the 1%? thank Jack. If these groups can't absorb the increased costs, the let the grand champions of individual freedom and responsibility, the Republican and Tea Parties, pay for it since they don't want the government doing it through health care reform, and not being in either group I don't want to pay higher rates to cover those costs.
A natural response . Let's take smokers. While it is important to encourage people to stop smoking, charging smokers higher insurance rates may not be a fair or effective method of achieving this goal. Obamacare's effect on small business: An unintended consequence? B) Will increased premiums be motivation enough for smokers to quit and fat people to reduce and eat healthily? For overweight people, it depends on case by case! We have no control over these companies, their offers, website content, products/services, or the availability and nature of their products/services. A disproportionate number of tobacco users, particularly smokers, are racial minorities and come from low-income and less-educated households, according to the American Cancer Society. As a former smoker I would absolutely not blame anybody else (Government, insurance companies, etc.) About the Author One other aspect of having smokers on the workforce is cost. For those of us who must struggle in our writing to convey with clarity the complicated ideas we are driven to share, Wills gift for off-the-cuff eloquence was awe-inspiring. the more incentive for people, esp the young, to QUIT smoking the BETTER. Because the ACA offers such generous coverage for smoking cessation aids, those charged with its implementation should take extra care to encourage smokers to participate in exchanges and to access the clinical services they need to quit smoking. No. When they get their habits under control then their premiums could also be lowered. Moreover, if smokers are charged higher rates, then other higher-risk groups should also be charged higher rates, since it would be unfair to single out smokers. A solid majority 59 percent say that smokers should pay more for health insurance than nonsmokers. Image via iStock, Improved life expectancy. Healthy foods cost two to three times as much. Why should those who have healthy habits subsidise them? Kytles practice also involves drafting affirmative action plans and he has represented employers in hundreds of affirmative action audits conducted by the OFCCP. The stubborn presence of tobacco use is frustrating considering the plethora of studies that link it to so many debilitating diseases. Once implemented, the impact of the differential should be monitored to determine if it results in a disparate impact on employees in protected groups such as minorities and specific ethnicities.
Sadly in America we have far more unhealthy people than healthy so this will probably be resisted and some groups will get involved and say it's discrimination. Take this case before a jury of my peers, and the business or health insurance company that charges more for overweight people will lose the case.
Lets just stop this nonsense and enact a law that insurers, mortgage companies and oil companies can garnish our wages. Just take it and cut to the chase.
Deborah Chollet, a senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research in Washington, D.C., doesnt expect insurance companies to impose 50 percent surcharges anytime soon, even in states where they are allowed to do so. Of course, lowering taxes on the rich, which is essentially stealing money from the next generation, means you're a conservative capitalist. While legal concerns exist, there are compelling reasons to implement a differential for smokers. Or a family history of colon cancer? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Are we going to ask them to shell out for my extra expenses? charge higher insurance premiums to employees who smoke, and some companies refuse to hire smokers. Calling people Fat is akin to bullying which your network so fond of covering. Use whatever they have on hand as weights. Jack Cafferty sounds off hourly on the Situation Room on the stories crossing his radar. Why not include illegal drug users and alcoholics. Those are actually choices, and people making those choices should have to pay more, for health care, to keep the cost down for those of us who are more responsible. Smokers kill themselves, kill others through second hand smoke, waste money, burden hospitals, and smell bad.
Sure they should, as long as drinkers and potheads follow suit. Absolutely !! So it's additional incentive to stop smoking.
I applaud the fantastic efforts of Michelle Obama in this regard as we strive to make healthier foods and exercise a part of our daily routine for children. I realize this is a difficult area to try to control as some activites are based on genetic predisposition, etc. I excersise every day, eat healthy and take care of myself. Jack, I understand your question but how can anyone afford to pay more for Health Care? Join 150,000+ subscribers Get KevinMD's most popular stories. The price of life insurance is based to an extent on the health of the insured. Insurance companies argue that its only fair to charge tobacco users more. You bet, Jack. Sadly, yes ! This practice may lead many people to forego health insurance even though they may have to pay a fine under the ACA. But I am willing to compromise.
That's up from 19% this year and only 8% in 2009. Many people do not belong to gyms and still find other ways to exercise. MD/JD Weighs In, Using Recalled Devices to Approve New Ones; Inpatient Safety. Why would anybody else have to pay for my poor choices? Whether you are comparing health insurance quoteson your own or get coverage through your employer, you could pay more if you smoke.
But whats this if they can afford it stuff? There are two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance rates. How do I sign up for Medicare when I turn 65? The wellness program must satisfy the following four requirements: Another potential legal problem arises from the Americans with Disabilities Acts prohibition against discriminating in benefits with respect to qualified individuals with disabilities. The best case scenario for immunocompromised people like me would be universal masking in all public spaces. Proponents for smokers also argue that as the less affluent, less educated are more likely to smoke and to not participate in smoke cessation programs, imposing a differential has a disproportionate adverse impact, which may amount to racial or national origin discrimination. No because they aren't going to lower the rates for those that aren't overweight and don't smoke..The rates are created for all by taking into consideration the overweight and the smokers..just like they take into consideration the chance of developing cancer.I grew up about the time a cure for polio was discoveredI don't remember the big refund check from the insurance companies when that threat was eliminated.Insurance companies are just looking to take in more bucks but those that aren't a problem will still pay the same high rates. In The Cure for Politicized Pediatric Gender Care, Moti Gorin argues that a U.S.-based systematic review, conducted by a trusted major medical organization such as the National Institutes of Health or the National Academy of Medicine, is needed to develop consistent standards for pediatric gender care. Until age 56, obese people had the highest health care expenditures, but in older age groups smokers had the highest costs. People who work in office jobs and sit all day since that's terrible for you?
Some of these forgoers pay a penalty, but many others dont. That translates into $1,250 per household, mostly in taxes and insurance premiums. What do people claim they do but in reality they dont? However, she says, as long as the program is correctly implemented and complies with federal and state laws, employers should have no concerns.
While the intent behind his call is well-intended, it is based on a flawed premise. So eat less, eat better and your premiums will go down. On the Ground, Its More Complicated.
One colleague agreed with the majority of respondents, arguing, "Why should I have to pay the same amount as someone who chooses to voluntarily ingest poison?".
Because many companies self-insure - meaning they pay for health care. Lord knows this country needs both. Smokers should be allowed to make lifestyle choices free from coercion from employers, insurers, or the government. No need to play big brother by charging people more for health insurance. $ + tax
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