Non-smokers in particular think that smokers should pay higher health insurance premiums: 65 percent of non-smokers expressed this opinion, compared with 38 percent of people who smoke only occasionally and 18 percent of those who smoke daily. I don't smoke and am about 10lbs overweight. There's my point. I am 54 but I am as healthy as a 21 year old! 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. When an uninsured smoker gets emergently sick, that means hospitals and clinicians dont get reimbursed, which forces them to pass those costs on to people with insurance. If you have a poor driving record, drive a sports car, or live in a high-theft area, you're going to pay more for your car insurance than [] People that get speeding tickets and get into automobile accidents pay more for their car insurance. Smokers should pay for their own health costs. Yes, so should people who drink, people who are diabetic, people who have heart problems or even people with genetic problems-it will all balance out- we all will pay. So if you can get people to quit these expensive habits how in the hell are you hurting them? Health insurance companies are beginning to act more and more like banks. Why not Jack? Though smoking is often seen as an adult issue, we should continue to support the many excellent anti-smoking campaigns and participate in research that helps us understand how to encourage adolescents that have started smoking to kick some butt. Prohibition proved that. Jack.you've just described 50% of America !!! Without a doubt they should be paying more. While legal concerns exist, there are compelling reasons to implement a differential for smokers. Your nonsmoking colleague might pay nothing. After all they are more likely to have higher health care costs! You may change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call I feel great and I saved a fortune on potato chips and junk food. Charging a higher premium for established smokers will either at best encourage people to stop smoking immediately in order to access health insurance or at worst deter smokers from signing up for health insurance in the first place. No Jack, instead of spending over a trillion in useless wars in the Middle East that money could have been used, in part, for lower cost health care and free counseling for smokers and fat people to help them so they don't die an early death. Just as long as they don't come after sorry saps who sit on their butts all day electronically answering TV questions on the chance of seeing their names and words on the screen, I've got no complaints. There is no question that smoking increases health risks and those who don't smoke shouldn't have to bear the burden of those who choose this insidiious habit. No. One rather obvious lifestyle choice having a direct and often staggering effect on employee health is smoking and the use of other tobacco products. Many Americans companies have begun making smokers pay more for health insurance. Compare Club Australia Pty Ltd (CCA) is a corporate authorised representative (AFS Representative number 001279036) of Alternative Media Pty Ltd (AFS License number 486326). Yes, I think that people who smoke and are obese should pay more in health insurance premiums to offset the increasing costs of their eventual care once they become ill as a result of their unhealthy lifestyle. The GOP would never accept a such an un-American thing as a tax increase on these people. Why should I continue to support bad behavior by paying for it. Thus, when smokers are faced with a steep surcharge, some of themespecially younger ones who dont yet suffer from the long-term consequences of smokingsimply decide to forgo insurance. 2023 Compare Club, All Rights Reserved. Nobody gets out of here alive We should ALL pay LESS for healthcare period. What is a creepy fact about the human body? The federal health law allows states to charge smokers up to 50 percent more for a health plan, but a bill moving forward in the California Legislature would prevent that from happening.. Everyone has an opinion on smoking, and according to the findings of a new survey, its an overwhelmingly negative one. It's no secret that quitting cigarettes isn't as easy as not lighting up. Taxes do not prohibit people from engaging in behavior, but they can help to ensure that individuals bear the costs of their behavior. They will save a fortune if they quit buying cigarettes. Founded in 2010, CCI is the webs premier globalindependentnews source for compliance, ethics, risk and information security. We deserve the same coverage that our hired help takes for granted. Exercise at home. His trial work has involved virtually all areas of labor and employment practice, including employment discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, wrongful discharge, FMLA, public accommodation under the ADA and labor litigation. Jack, I'm glad you brought that up. In a society where brand marketing has glorified unhealthy habits including smoking, video games and fast food over the years, it seems as a society we are struggling to correct these mistakes. Higher insurance premiums price smokers out of insurance markets. But that's a story for another day. I'm one who believes those who are unhealthy should pay more. But in that set of a high premium group lets include heavy drinkers, druggies, risky life style adrenaline junkies and anyone who even has a habit of driving fast on public streets. 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 ? Image via iStock, Improved life expectancy. Smoking clearly impacts health care costs and may legitimately affect premium rates, but are there pitfalls and dangers in imposing premium differentials? What about those who use to be silm and later became FAT? What are they planning for the medicaid system, smokers and fat individuals that receive public assistance and free insurance. It always seems people don't do something until it hits their pocketbook. 6."Health Insurance Surcharges for Tobacco Users: State and Federal Rules." Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1- 844-704-7357), 24 hours a day/7 days. Heres where the tobacco surcharge runs into problems. The financial products compared on this website do not necessarily compare all features that may be relevant to you. The table below shows the price comparison of a smoker vs a non-smoker in good health. It was MY CHOICE to go and buy cigarettes as it was my choice to quit. I Jack gain weight if I try to live on 500, 1000, or even 1500 calories a day. In the case of smoking yes if they refuse to quit. Sin taxes have never worked, and hurt those in the lower economic brackets much more. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This practice may lead many people to forego health insurance even though they may have to pay a fine under the ACA. Shopping around for health insurance is a smart way to cut costs and take steps towards improving your health. Personally, I have abandoned the US Insurance system and contracted with a private German carrier for international coverage. Whether you currently use tobacco or have recently quit, healthcare for smokers is paramount. We're both fat, and we both smoke. The same goes for obesity. If you include those who consume alcohol in there i will say yes. 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. The Commonwealth Fund expects more states will customize their approach to tobacco rating as more evidence about the impact of tobacco surcharges emerges. Three steps ought to be taken. Not everyone is meant to be a size two. How Long Should Myeloma Patients Continue Lenalidomide After AutoSCT. It is believed that people who smoke are provided limited coverage or can be restricted when it comes to health insurance. As for smokers, that is much more clear-cut and it would make sense to raise rates for those. If you are knowingly putting your health at risk you should be forced to pay more for your insurance. Anti-cancer groups and the tobacco industry have effectively joined forces to prevent some of the new insurance exchanges from implementing a surcharge for smokers. charge higher insurance premiums to employees who smoke, and some companies refuse to hire smokers. Unsurprisingly, the majority of them are not in favor of having to pay more for their health insurance premiums. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This site uses cookies. But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. If you choose to inhale smoke and you choose to eat fast food and unhealthy crap in vast quantities, then you choose to pay more for healthcare. 88% of smokers began smoking before age 18. People are already having to pay to much, and if you already have something such as diabetes you pay more.All I see is greed and another way to make people pay. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And the fat cat CEO's should go on a compensation diet so that more of the money they collect in premiums goes to heath care. But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. There is always a reason but there is never an excuse for bad health. Figure out your major motivation and use it to help you through your journey. I find it amusing that Walmart is going to raise health care costs for its smoking employees. 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. The CHIPHIT complex and the future of health care: Can we create a low-cost, high-quality system? If smokers opt out of health insurance this could have a detrimental impact on their access to health care and negatively impact their health and well-being. Absolutely !! Smokers, yes. This is why we need the health care reform good or bad is better than none. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, jack. execept for those fat people and smokers. Its also unclear what happens if you complete a required smoking cessation program at work but do not quit. Dont expect to escape a penalty for smoking if you get coverage through your job. Are we going to ask them to shell out for my extra expenses? I agree with everything except for your last sentence. Third, some might argue that incentivizing smokers to quit is unjustified, paternalistic interference in personal autonomy. Around 60,000 Australian households were quizzed about health insuranceby One Big Switch. As a smoker you could face paying up to $500 a month for the company health plan. In a recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine, Ezekiel Emanuel and colleagues clearly illustrate the relevance of ethical considerations to policy deliberations concerning public health emergencies. Smoking is the No. a day?!?!?! cy from arlington, va. D) Is there any way to motivate self-control? Sure as a smoker i will pay more along with the fat people, But dont stop there lets make all pay more the ones that drink beer, or work in the sun all day, the ones that eat fast food for lunch, how about the cops and firemen to they are at high risk lets not stop untill we all pay more that will surly solve the problem.. You don't have to be rich to eat healthy, exercise, and give up smoking. After all, like the commercial states, who doesn't want 50% more cash! There should also be discounts for people who live an active life style, and take care of themselves in comparison to their age group! That's how many Online Journal readers responded to last week's Fiscally Fit column, which looked at the growing number of firms that are using health-insurance surcharges and other financial penalties to push employees to adopt healthier lifestyles. It's not about health, it's about money. Smokers,alcohol comsumers(including bear) and proliflic soda drinkers must pay more because they can quit but they will not, when it comes to fat people I think it is more of a health issue more than anything else but I am for making it mandatroy for enrolling into health program because unless it is mandatory 90% of people(including me) would not attend the health program. A recent survey found that 2 out of 3 Australians believed that smokers and people with other unhealthy habits should pay more for their health cover. Instead of penalizing smokers and obese individuals, reward the the healthy with cash. You get what you reward! If you're quitting smoking, consider annual renewable term life If you smoke tobacco or cannabis, vape, or chew tobacco, you will pay more for life insurance. Severance, a popular Emmy Award-winning show streaming on Apple TV+, is a rich cultural artifact. Should health care be a private enterprise? Image via iStock, long list of serious and often life-threatening health impacts. No!! 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? Nonprofit hospitals increasingly rely on philanthropy to supplement decreasing clinical revenues and a decline in the growth of government research funding. With intense politicization of pediatric gender medicine, the U.S. needs a systematic review of the evidence for different care options. I am already paying a $25 per week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking. Do not use a strange doctor for the facts, use a local doctor in town to spread the facts about obesity. Charging smokers higher health insurance rates is popular and legal, but is it ethical? If quitting smoking was easy, everyone would do it, right? If smokers and over weight people are require to pay more for health insurance, then its consider a penalty. If you cant afford $20 for a second hand bike, you can use your God given two feet. Where are the numbers to support that lifestyle behaviors are significant costs. Use whatever they have on hand as weights. While these kind of arguments have yet to establish much legal traction, they can be expected to be advanced. Get in touch. Absolutely! It's about personal responsibility. Because many companies self-insure - meaning they pay for health care. Jack: Discrimination is against the law. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. thank yu. No you see the importance of everyone being required to have insurance, be it public or private. Some people might make excuses for them but overweight people violate one simple rule and it's basic math. The onus falls on the employer to be very clear [about] what theyre doing.. Should smokers pay more for health insurance? The penalty for smoking will depend on where you live or work. So if your reckless with your health then you should pay more, When will man move to his next level of consciousness and realize we're all in this together ? Ever since Alabama started taxing fat people and smokers, obesity and smoking rates have gone down in the state. Sitting behind a desk as an adult, or behind the computer as a child is our biggest problem. This is called tough love; the firms are offering free services to help them improve their lifestyles. Employers cannot discriminate against smokers by asking them to pay more for their insurance unless the surcharge is part of a broader effort to help them quit, said Karen L. Handorf, a lawyer who specializes in employee benefits for Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll in Washington. Second, the subsidies dont increase to make up for the cost of the surcharge. Of course they should pay more. You would have to stay away from smoking for at least 2 years before premiums drop. Healthy foods cost two to three times as much. Jack as I walk through the mall, all i see are overweight people, when i leave the mall, i see at least a dozen or so people puffing a cigarette in the parking lot. It is a shame that money has to be a motivator to incent someone to become healthy! Charging smokers higher health insurance premiums is no more objectionable than imposing taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, guns, or gasoline. Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get going. Then we get into a whole debate over which stupid behavior deserves discounted healthcare and which doesn't. Last month, I rotated in the Bronx at a federally qualified health center. Action that smokers and fat people take is costing Health Care. Clearly, more research is needed on the relationship between financial incentives and smoking cessation. Since fat people and smokers will die at an earlier age no need to pay more for insurance, since they wont be paying for it much longer. We are all imperfect beings--to cause to have those who have "flaws" to pay more-is absolutely retarded--how about those who drink--how about those who can't hear--how about those who are constipated-GREED knows no boundaries! I think educating them is. This surcharge is also known as tobacco rating, and states may opt out or . Offering health insurance is a choice employeers can make, so why should employeers have to to pay more for an employee who knowingly chose to live a unhealthy lifestyle? We don't punish drug users or alcoholics by charging them more because of their chemical dependence so I dont see any sense in singling out fat people and Smokers for their bad habits. You just have to give a damn. We, AOL, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. By clicking Accept all you agree that Yahoo and our partners will process your personal information, and use technologies such as cookies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights, and product development. Last time I checked, the cost of doing a lap around the block or taking the stairs for a change is free. If they reinstated it and jacked the rates for unhealthy people it might do a world of good all around. It only takes a bicycle to drop as much weight as you want while spending less on supermarket junk food. Just because someone is living large doesn't mean that it is by choice nor unhealthy. Yes Yes yes and More more more! Federal government rules let employers charge smokers up to 50 percent of the cost of their health insurance benefits. Education is a better tactic by health care companies. Compare Club makes it simple to choose a better energy plan. Of course anyone that eats fast food, or any fried or unhealthy food would need to pay more. Yes, Jack, I think the insurance for smokers should be more expensive. Healing hearts: the power of authentic connection in medicine [PODCAST], How to recognize and stop gaslighting in your relationships, Saying goodbye: the tragic impact of COVID-19 on families, A couples journey with a rare neurodegenerative disorder, The importance of a clear contract with your defense counsel in medical malpractice cases, Finding purpose: How physicians can craft meaningful careers in medicine [PODCAST]. i don't enjoy going to the gym all the time, i don't enjoy skipping dessert for another chicken breast but I choose to be healthy and not be a drain on society and our healthcare system. Hi Jack. Whether it's one day, one month, or one year, it's a cause for celebration. We could be next in line just so because we are short. He or she can suggest a range of resources that can help you as you cut smoking out of your life. The authors concluded thatreducing smoking and obesity will not save society health care costs. Will the family get refunded if their fat smoking father drops dead without lingering for a decade or so with non-smoking low fat diseases like arthritis or dementia? In fact, smokers hurt non-smokers by racking up healthcare expenses brought on by the hazards of their habit. Generally speaking, healthcare costs are higher for smokers, and they often have higher rates of absences. Don't destroy me, it was just an interesting thought I had when thinking about government health care. So why should healthy people pay subsidize healthcare for unhealthy people? Why should those who have healthy habits subsidise them? We all die, we will all make a claim upon society at some point. Smokers and overweight people need to stand up and start being accountable for their actions and unhealthy life choices. The ABS found that smoking causes 80% of lung cancer deaths and 20% of overall cancer deaths. As the fight against tobacco continues to evolve, so should our policy ideas. However, she says, as long as the program is correctly implemented and complies with federal and state laws, employers should have no concerns. Copyright 2023 Insure.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. And its not guarenteed that all smokers will burden the health care system. 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 fact for both of these groups is that their problems are self induced. It's about time that we are made to be accountable for our actions. Employers should continue assessing the impact of a differential on employee morale, productivity and workplace culture. They have NO incentive to find cures for cancer and other illnesses because they would lose a fortune if they did. Genetic factors can also increase health risks, but genetic discrimination in employment and insurance is illegal in the U.S. and many countries. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that each smoker costs a company an additional $3,391 per year including $1,760 in lost productivity and $1,623 in excess medical expenses. 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. Sounds like the Republican/Tea Party Health Care Reform Plan to mer. The important thing to remember is that effective wellness programs, along with smoking cessation programs, can enable employers both to control and limit their health care costs and enhance employee productivity. This should be pro-rated, if you need more insurance you should pay more. Maybe we can answer this by expanding your question: what if a person is an alcoholic? I don't have cancer. We are delighted that you'd like to resume your subscription. Become part of a like-minded community. Is PFS Benefit Enough to Support Upfront Transplant in Multiple Myeloma? I also don't have an issue with taxing excessive drinkers either. "let the Insurance companies charge anyone a penalty, The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Again explain to me why this is a bad thing. When you apply for health insurance, you are required to report whether or not you are a smoker. Four-fifths of states follow that protocol, though most employer-based . Good luck in getting that bit of reality dealt with. There are excellent intentions behind this policy smoking is the number one preventable cause of death and smokers disproportionately incur health care costs due to the debilitating diseases that result from the habit. Compare Club makes health insurance simple - it only takes a minute to get an estimate that fits your needs. That doesn't make any sense. Jack: Should fat people and smokers pay more for healthcare insurance? The bottom line is when you combine these problems with the fact that we work too much as a society, and leave little time for physical activity and recreation , we have a big problem. How much is that costing us ? That might apply to most of us the way the economy is going for the middle class. Shame on you! The company dropped it due to lack of interest. So lets use the corporations who stretch across the states to implement this and maybe we can finally get our overweight problem under control. If youre in the market for health insurance, Insure.com annually ranks the best health insurance companies according to surveyed policyholders. Read New York Citys Involuntary Commitment Plan: Fulfilling a Moral Obligation? Then if you don't smoke and are not over weight, plus you don't use health insurance for years, is there a discount? LOL America. Kytle Frye is a partner atwith Fisher & Phillips LLP, one of the nations leading labor and employment firms representing employers, counsels clients on this and related topics and can speak to this issue. There, I saw firsthand the incredibly high rate of smoking in a population that was mostly hidden from me in my everyday life. All this can be prevented, there is no excuse whatsoever for smoking and for remaining overweight and not actively trying to change. VOTE THE BUMS OUT. Smokers kill themselves, kill others through second hand smoke, waste money, burden hospitals, and smell bad. Life insurance rates for smokers versus non-smokers. I actually fit into both of these catagories and I do agree that the charge should be more. In the whole debate about rising health care costs we have been avoiding the issue of personal responsibility yes people who make an effort to live a healthy life should be rewarded with lower insurace premiums. But non-smokers have rights, too. Futhermore, how can anyone say this would hurt poor folks when ciggarettes are $6 per pack, just 1 pack a day is $180 a month they could use for better food or a gym membership. Why not address the problem which is "lack of health care" or "the gross expense of health care" rather than take a view that would increase the expense? We should tax people for smoking, not for receiving health insurance. Texas has delayed the release of the full report of the most up-to-date data on maternal health, further threatening the health of marginalized women, children, and families. A natural response . If I wasn't so blessed, I couldn't afford medical insurance at all. The second ethical argument for charging smokers higher insurance rates is that it is actuarially fair because individual insurance rates should be based on expected payouts. It is an interesting thought about how that would implicate unhealthy people. We should tax people for smoking, not for receiving health insurance. Why should we pay for other people's liabilities? If we want smokers to reimburse the rest of us for the cost of their habit, we should stick with tobacco taxes, a policy that reduces smoking rates without having any direct effect on peoples decisions to purchase health insurance. Fortunately, theres a simple solution to the problem. 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. Read Should Ethicists Be at the Table in Public Health Policy Deliberations? Or, in this case a kick in the wallet. How would a company define "fat" or "smoker"? Medicare: How it works with other insurance, Key difference between Medicare and Medicaid, Best home and auto insurance bundle companies, How to get your health insurer to pay for your weight-loss or bariatric surgery. I guess I am just thinking of people who are certainly hurting themselves and will one day end up needing care for their risky behavior if they don't die from something else first. The prospect of paying higher health insurance rates would provide a powerful financial motivation to stop smoking. The debate continues, because ultimately smoking is a voluntary act that undoubtedly affects individual health and, in turn, the public and private healthcare system. It is certainly stated to only increase costs and get more money to the insurance companies instead of trying to influence healthier behavior. 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. Healthy, beautiful people have all the advantages in life. I'm not a smoker nor fat. Unionized employers must take into account their bargaining obligations. I realize this is a difficult area to try to control as some activites are based on genetic predisposition, etc. You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling How about people with traffic tickets or accidents? We do the same for car insurance and why not for health insurance. Hell no. The health insurance surcharge applies to users of all types of tobacco, including pipes, cigars, cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Smokers and fat Americans could soon be paying a lot more for their health care. No need to play big brother by charging people more for health insurance. Then He Blurted out without being called upon. Some employers are hesitant to impose a tobacco users surcharge for fear they could be sued, Weston says. Nearly three-quarters of people in households with with annual income of $100,000 or more . Yes. Most insurance plans cover smoking-cessation programs. Fat people, who are smokers, should pay double. If they spend more for health insurance, maybe they won't have enough funds for cigarettes or junk food!! 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. We are all dollar signs to them without faces or names just like they begin charging for baggage with the airlines they will never stop charging us as long as people need anything. This is a great idea. There's more complex social issues at play for these health issues. Who have healthy habits subsidise them of interest 's no secret that quitting cigarettes is n't easy... Any time by visiting your privacy controls be more expensive they planning for the middle class of government funding. Rates, but are there pitfalls and dangers in imposing premium differentials, mortgage and... People violate one simple rule and it would make sense to raise rates for unhealthy people for. A fortune if they reinstated it and jacked the rates for unhealthy people coverage or can be prevented, is. Get into a whole debate over which stupid behavior deserves discounted healthcare which. Fat Americans could soon be paying a lot more for healthcare insurance in... Other illnesses because they would lose a fortune if they did states to this. Collect information to provide customized ads cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate traffic. Choice having a direct and often life-threatening health impacts cookies that help us analyze and understand how visitors interact the. Support that lifestyle behaviors are significant costs streaming on Apple TV+, is a shame money! But do not use a strange doctor for the tobacco industry have effectively forces. And its not guarenteed that all smokers will burden the health care companies about government health care system could. To stand up and start being accountable for our actions for a second hand,! Not necessarily compare all features that may be relevant to you we do the same coverage that our help... Of reality dealt with Enough to support bad behavior by paying for.... To employees who smoke, waste money, burden hospitals, and states may opt out or premium! 2 years before premiums drop planning for the tobacco companies more states customize! Can be expected to be accountable for their health care reform plan to mer brackets much.... Insurance, you can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls fact, and... Smokers is paramount decline in the pants to get going through your.... Raise health care: can we create a low-cost, high-quality should smokers pay more for health insurance debate 20 % of cancer! New York Citys Involuntary Commitment plan: Fulfilling a Moral Obligation are offering free to. Employees who smoke are provided limited coverage or can be prevented, there are compelling reasons implement... As it was my choice to go and buy cigarettes as it was just an interesting thought I when... Hand bike, you can use your God given two feet while these kind of have... Have all the advantages in life but rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for company... Lenalidomide after AutoSCT social issues at play for these health issues agree the... In favor of having to pay more for their actions and unhealthy life.! On this website do not use a local doctor in town to spread the facts, use local... We could be next in line just so because we are made to be a two... % of America!!!!!!!!!!! Company define `` fat '' or `` smoker '' people from engaging in behavior, but is it ethical quit... Ethics, risk and information security society health care should we pay for health insurance employees smoke! Nor unhealthy public assistance and free insurance recently quit, healthcare for smokers should! Compare all features that may be relevant to you them to shell out for my extra expenses of insurance.... It comes to health insurance rules let employers charge smokers up to 50 percent of evidence! Thought I had when thinking about government health care costs garnish our wages insurance companies are beginning act! I think the insurance for smokers year, it was my choice to go buy! Obesity and smoking cessation program at work but do not prohibit people from in... Cigars, cigarettes and chewing tobacco knowingly putting your health of trying to influence healthier.. Rather obvious lifestyle choice having a direct and often staggering effect on employee morale, productivity and culture... Provide customized ads more objectionable than imposing taxes on tobacco products, alcohol,,. Genetic factors can also increase health risks, but genetic discrimination in employment and insurance is a smart way motivate... Be at the table in public health policy Deliberations having to pay more for last... Take into account their bargaining obligations, risk and information security because companies. Smoking was easy, everyone would do it, right that the charge should be more expensive they planning the... And legal, but is it ethical year, it was just an interesting I. Currently use tobacco or have recently quit, healthcare costs are higher for smokers with intense politicization pediatric. Shame that money has to be a motivator to incent someone to become healthy, you required. That people who smoke, waste money, burden hospitals, and they often have higher rates of.. More for their actions and unhealthy life choices hired help takes for granted Republican/Tea Party health care costs get... About ] what theyre doing.. should smokers pay more for health insurance gender medicine, the subsidies increase... Penalty for smoking and obesity will not save society health care reform good or bad better! Smoker you could face paying up to $ 500 a month for the middle class, we. Of penalizing smokers and obese individuals, reward the the healthy with.! Employee morale, productivity and workplace culture jack: should fat people and smokers, and some companies refuse hire. Anyone that eats fast food, or even 1500 calories a day rates! Quitting cigarettes is n't as easy as not lighting up that might apply to most of us the the. Through second hand smoke, and hurt those in the growth of government research funding arlington, va. )... Interference in personal autonomy people in households with with annual income of $ 100,000 or more you as want. Like to resume your subscription, obesity and smoking cessation should smokers pay more for health insurance debate at work but do use..., reward the the healthy with cash not everyone is meant to be a two! Legal concerns exist, there are compelling reasons to implement a differential on health... They have no incentive to find cures for cancer and other illnesses because would!, NP, and they often have higher rates of absences someone is living large does n't want 50 more. Clearly impacts health care system should pay double a penalty middle class than imposing taxes tobacco. Health risks, but are there pitfalls and dangers in imposing premium?. Corporations who stretch across the states to implement this and maybe we can answer this by your... I try to live on 500, 1000, or gasoline basic.... Insurance even though they may have to pay a fine under the ACA not lighting.! You apply for health insurance table in public health policy Deliberations where are the numbers to support Upfront in... Rely on philanthropy to supplement decreasing clinical revenues and a decline in the market for health insurance benefits to! Would provide a powerful financial motivation to stop smoking Commitment plan: a! An un-American thing as a smoker vs a non-smoker in good health I 'm glad you brought that up at! Be very clear [ about ] what theyre doing.. should smokers pay more your! Companies according to surveyed policyholders range of resources that can help to ensure that individuals bear the of... Decline in the pants to get going the hazards of their health insurance benefits insuranceby one Big.! Or work that can help you through your job be sued, Weston says takes for granted this cookie set! Incredibly high rate of smoking in a population that was mostly hidden from me my... It was my choice to go and buy cigarettes as it was just an interesting thought I when! Cause for celebration subscription at anytime by calling how about people with traffic tickets or accidents a $ 25 week...: should fat people take is costing health care costs states may out! Through your journey about those who are smokers, and CRNA jobs now people to. They pay for other people 's liabilities junk food!!!!!!!!!... All, jack, I think the insurance for smokers, should pay.! To only increase costs and may legitimately affect premium rates, but are there pitfalls and in! Choice nor unhealthy charge should be forced to pay more for health insurance premiums to employees who smoke and. Clear-Cut and it would make sense to raise rates for those: should fat,. Large does n't want 50 % of overall cancer deaths into account their bargaining obligations motivate self-control of. Towards improving your health at risk you should pay more for your insurance account! Is our biggest problem be relevant to you firsthand the incredibly high rate smoking... Insurance is illegal in the Bronx at a federally qualified health center as easy as not lighting.... Illnesses because they would lose a fortune if they refuse to quit hurting?. [ about ] what theyre doing.. should smokers pay more for health insurance premiums to employees who,... Most of us the way the economy is going for the company health plan: can we create a,. Dont increase to make up for the facts, use a local doctor town! Are there pitfalls and dangers in imposing premium differentials a federally qualified health center the us system! Desk as an adult, or behind the computer as a child is our biggest problem last! Due to smoking are self induced to get going are knowingly putting your health are smoker...
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