Cost of health care must be addressed, everyone should be required to purchase insurance. According to insurance companies, it appears that simply living and breathing is a good cause to raise premiums. Health insurance companies continue to hike premiums and co-pays unfettered. Exercise at home. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Thoughts? Dave from NH. Should fertile women have to pay more for health insurance than women who can't reproduce? August 24, 2021. 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. Once you start separating the herd you'll need to take out sky divers, surfers, race car drivers, anorexics, clumsy people, etc., etc., etc. Action that smokers and fat people take is costing Health Care. Most insurance plans cover smoking-cessation programs. 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. Why should we pay pay for others' poor choices? So pay up! How long has it been since you had your last cigarette? We should tax people for smoking, not for receiving health insurance. If we begin to separate people because of diseases, it might begin to punish people with costly diseases which they could not have prevented like Type one diabetes, Parkinson's, most cancers etc. Keep track of your milestones. A study of 20,000 employees showed smokers had more hospital visits per 1,000 (124 vs. 76), had a longer average length of stay (6.5 vs. 5 days) and made six more visits to medical facilities per year than non-smokers. It might feel right to charge smokers more for their insurance. Fat people, who are smokers, should pay double. Will those that enjoy dangerous sports have to pay more. Why are we paying more and getting less? Probably, as long as it does not lead to a denial of care or rates so high that they go uninsured. And also the health care system could be smokers already pay more in excise taxes than the social costs of their habits. As for being overweight, it doesn't cost anything to walk either in the mornings or evenings, and staying away from the dingdongs and cheezypoofs might help as well. In fact, smokers hurt non-smokers by racking up healthcare expenses brought on by the hazards of their habit. Why would anybody else have to pay for my poor choices? yu hve people tht are nt big n hve mre medical problems than them.as for smoker yu no they read the warning n America is stubborn abt taken advice. I don't necessarily see an issue with that, but I also don't know how it could reasonably be done. Use more, pay more. Ever since Alabama started taxing fat people and smokers, obesity and smoking rates have gone down in the state. They are considered high risks. Unlike smokers, I don't have a problem with overweight people but they are at greater risk for certain disorders and diseases. But unfortunately it is not popular across the country if govt. The Unvaccinated Should Pay More For Health Insurance. Get in touch. Just as your auto loan down payment and interest rate are computed by your credit, income, stability, etc which creates the exposure to the risk of loan default. Ralph- Corpus Christi, Texas. Yes! Insurence companies need to put people ahead of massive profits. Smoking? Yes, they should pay more. Tagged as: It is a shame what american society has come to with everyone making an excuse for overweight people. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Healthy Reader tired of making excuses for my fellow Lazy Americans. does this. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Obesity? Of course they should pay more. As one who quit smoking 40+ years ago and has struggled throughout my life with my weight, I've been able to control both problems without the aid of health club memberships, weight loss programs etc. No. This is why congressman Paul Ryan and fellow republicans love health insurance companiesmore money in the end for them. HELLO. I think people are stressed out with todays world, They have/show no feelings for themselves. These folks made the decision to smoke, so they should pay more. Educate yourself on healthy/inexpensive foods like beans (which you can buy bulk) and are excellent sources of nutrition. Ive had the privilege of knowing more than a few extraordinarily brilliant people from whose mouths seemed to spill spontaneous gems of polished prose. Open a newChase Private ClientChecking account and get a $2000 bonus! Yes they should! Every month, you calculate what you might have spent on health insurance had the individual been a smoker or obese and give them half. Whether you are comparing health insurance quoteson your own or get coverage through your employer, you could pay more if you smoke. When they get their habits under control then their premiums could also be lowered. If they spend more for health insurance, maybe they won't have enough funds for cigarettes or junk food!! 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. There is always a reason but there is never an excuse for bad health. See where I'm going with this. Fat, smokers, too skinny, birth defects, pimples. everyone should pay more, right? Taxes do not prohibit people from engaging in behavior, but they can help to ensure that individuals bear the costs of their behavior. I guess intellectual consistency isn't our strong suit. 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. Add to prior comment: Employers, however, have no business even asking these questions and companies should be banned from forcing them to. Its all about personal responsibility..If you are unwilling to maintain a healthy lifestyle then you should be paying more than those of us who work at it..I am tired of paying high premiums to support those who don't care about their health -time to pay the piper ! It needs to be a flat rate for everyone. If you have a thyroid problem, you'd better have a doctor's note. Why should we pay for other people's liabilities? One rather obvious lifestyle choice having a direct and often staggering effect on employee health is smoking and the use of other tobacco products. But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. If you get a lot of speeding/reckless driving tickets or accidents you paay more for auto insurrance-same principle. Then, would not liquor users be the next target. Hell no. Charging individuals rates based on their risk helps to ensure that money paid out from the pool will not exceed money paid into the pool. If I chose to remain fat by following an unhealthy lifestyle then I should pay the cost for the consequences. Should smokers pay more for health insurance? Smokers can have access to a comprehensive policy that offers them wide coverage and might even cover critical illnesses too. 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. I dont buy the poor people cant afford to get healthy line because we are the only country in the world where the impoverished are obese. Not because I think your wrong, but because it doesn't make sense to me. Sign upfor free. The reason? Jack.you've just described 50% of America !!! Reuters reports a growing number of companies are raising health care costs for so-called unhealthy employees. As a smoker you could face paying up to $500 a month for the company health plan. Jack: Should fat people and smokers pay more for healthcare insurance? 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? Children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria receive radically different treatments depending on where they live. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. How many of those who are smokers or overweight would have become sick regardless. Increasingly, companies are answering yes, and asking smokers to pay higher health insurance premiums than their non-smoking colleaguesor even not hiring them altogether. Where would it end? Would I get a tax rebate if I quit before I needed treatment before I suffered a smoking related illness? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Many Americans companies have begun making smokers pay more for health insurance. Jack, let's do the math, if you smoke a pack a day that adds up to $2,190 (@$6.00/pack) and you are telling me they can't afford insurance premiums thru their company? Yes. The health insurance industry unexpectedly began to support a plan for universal health insurance for American citizens. I realize this is a difficult area to try to control as some activites are based on genetic predisposition, etc. Look, this isn't about alienating people or being mean for being mean's sake. The benchmark for all insurance underwriting is computed by an exposure to risk formula. I should be paying the same rate for health insurance as a 21 year old! There are two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance rates. Hopefully these penalties will get these overindulgent people to quit their bad habits and lead healthier lives thus live longer. Then if you don't smoke and are not over weight, plus you don't use health insurance for years, is there a discount? That translates into $1,250 per household, mostly in taxes and insurance premiums. Get fat on steroids from their asthama? Smokers, yes. J is a 21-year-old male with multiple disabilities. We deserve the same coverage that our hired help takes for granted. People who use more healthcare resources because of a poor lifestyle choice such as smoking or poor diet should pay more. I think that is a very good method. as for smokers , they no wht will happen to them.. an tht question should been broader n liittle mre respected. The company dropped it due to lack of interest. The ABS found that smoking causes 80% of lung cancer deaths and 20% of overall cancer deaths. Do you really think about these questions before you post? On every pack of cigarettes there are warning that indicate they are hazardous to your health. I don't think so. (if applicable) for The Wall Street Journal. 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. Or you don't wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle? 88% of smokers began smoking before age 18. Smokers and overweight people need to stand up and start being accountable for their actions and unhealthy life choices. We do the same for car insurance and why not for health insurance. 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. After a string of violent crimes involving mentally ill people who are homeless, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a plan for police and emergency medical workers to involuntarily remove people with severe mental illness from the streets and bring them to hospitals for psychiatric evaluation. Jack, when we start down this road of charging people higher premiums based on the choices they make where does it end. I overheard a pharmaceutical rep entice him with all kinds of freebies to push her drugs. No. Many people do not belong to gyms and still find other ways to exercise. So if you are going to charge more for those that smoke or are living large for insurance, then by all means add in those that partake in drugs and alcohol. Starting next year, Wal-Mart will charge employees who smoke higher premiums, along with offering a free program to help them quit. Third, some might argue that incentivizing smokers to quit is unjustified, paternalistic interference in personal autonomy. Links found on the CompareClub website do not necessarily imply an endorsement or recommendation of the information or views that are expressed by the external party. This is a long term problem that will take 50 years to correct in our society and it begins in the classroom when children our young with mandatory daily courses in health and physical education. A couple that smokes one pack each day will spend between $3400.00 to $7300.00 a year. It is the leading risk factor for death and disease in Australia. 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. Sooner or later they won't have the money for tobacco or much for food if they are still paying premiums. About the Author Yes. Shame on you! 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. As a person who is living large, I can tell you that I don't have high blood pressure, I don't have diabetes, my knees and back are fine. 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. It does not store any personal data. It's not about health, it's about money. If you do this let's include ALL the circumstances that can shorten life or cause one to need health care. Why don't we just discriminate more, people who drink should pay more.It doesn't matter to the insurance companies as long as they get money. How many that do smoke get a physical on a yearl basis? The tobacco industry needs 5,000 new smokers every day to stay afloat. Smoking causes alot of problems not only for the smoker, but for the people around. The fact of the matter is that these people are just enablers. Regeneron CEO & CSO: The Real Healthcare Problem Is Bigger Than You Think, Pfizer CEO: How The Biopharmaceutical Industry Creates Value (And Jobs) For The U.S. Economy, Gradual Progress In Precision Non-Oncology, But Challenges Persist, Amid Executive Shuffle, Anthem Looks To Expand Health Services, 'Forest Bathing' Really May Be Good For Health, Study Finds, Not Fun In The Sun: Summer Infections From Animals, Insurers To Trump: Suspending Payments For 'High-Need Patients' Roils Market, CDC: Over 200 Ill From Parasite Outbreak, Del Monte Recalls Vegetable Trays. Or addicted to prescription medication? But should smokers pay more for health insurance? If everyone paid the same rate, nonsmokers would have to share the health-care costs stemming from smokers habits. If you drive an expensive or exotic car you pay more for insurance. This echoed the findings of a2012 survey of 1213 Australians,in which 73 per cent of respondents believedin the same principle. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Who would YOU Hire First ?? Charging smokers higher health insurance premiums is no more objectionable than imposing taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, guns, or gasoline. It seems unfair to those of us that take care of our health? B) Will increased premiums be motivation enough for smokers to quit and fat people to reduce and eat healthily? Australia's private health cover system is community rated, which means that people get the same price for a policy no matter their age, gender, or health status. How about diabetics, cancer surviors, the list is endless. What to do next? I need sick insurance regardless if I deserved it or was born with a genetic flaw. Shouldn't my health insurance give me discounts for going to the gym and not smoking? Public Health & Policy. If someone makes bad choices I shouldn't be penalized for it. Those who profit from the illness of others have convinced the media that their claims are legitimate, that their goals are lofty, that their aim is health (!!! 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. then you need to curb the amount being used. 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. I excersise every day, eat healthy and take care of myself. Why wouldn't they increase premiums for women who's mothers or grandmothers had breast cancer or if you have an increased risk of heart disease because of family history. While the Affordable Care Act ends the era of denying people with pre-existing conditions access to health care, it allows insurance companies to charge tobacco users up to 50% more for their monthly premiums. The same goes for obesity. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Compensation may impact where the Sponsors appear on this website (including the order in which they appear). Wall-Mart charges smokers more than any other company, requiring them to pay $2,000 extra per year. How does primary and secondary insurance work? You will be charged Fat people and smokers definetly should pay more for their Health Insurance. Instead, the GOP would send them straight to the great State of Texas and have them serve 30 days in the electric chair (that is, unless you are a millionaire or John Boehner). Of course they should pay more. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They do not live as long and even getting treatment for those conditions is no fun. There should also be discounts for people who live an active life style, and take care of themselves in comparison to their age group! This site uses cookies. Since smokers tend to have significantly lower incomes than non-smokers, they could be especially vulnerable to increased health insurance costs. Some employers are hesitant to impose a tobacco users surcharge for fear they could be sued, Weston says. The increased tobacco excise taxes are also filling up government coffers to the tune of an estimated $8 billion each year. Obviously they use more health care resources than a single employee. I would like to start this counter-debate by saying you see more drunk driving deaths than smoker deaths because news reporters report car accidents, not cancer Smoking increases health risks and should be banned in public places. People have known for years that smoking causes a variety of health problems and, especially if these companies are offering programs to assist in quitting, there is no reason nowadays to still be partaking. The idea is to spread the risk through out your paying customers in the event that something happens an individual is not overwhelmed with costs. Certainly not directly. Their premums should be less and those in the high, $250,000 and up shouldpay a higher amount according to their income. I've given enough money for their addictively engineered products. Policies that are adopted should be fair and not undermine smokers access to health care. Another thing to keep in mind: although smoking does not affect your health insurance premiums at the moment, it is possible that the rules could change in future. "Fat" people. If more funds need to be collected for certain types of unhealthy behavior why not let the tobacco companies pick up the tab for smokers, fast food restaurants that don't serve healthy food (some do serve healthy food, like Qdoba) for the obese or have type 2 diabetes, if it is certain their condition is caused by unhealthy eating. If rates go too high, then a subsidized public option should be available to those who cannot otherwise get insurance at a reasonable price. But whats this if they can afford it stuff? cy from arlington, va. If you use too much insulinyou'll gain weight (who ever you are). Now, you can check in with Jack online to see what he's thinking and weigh in with your own comments online and on TV. Of course anyone that eats fast food, or any fried or unhealthy food would need to pay more. and people might get healthier. Directionally people need to be responsible for their choices. It has had significant effects on obesity throughj dirt control in schools, Tougher laws on DWI are certainly needed, too. is this what we want to teach our kids? Sure, why not, soon we will be charge for the air we breath, for eating too much, for raising your voice, for drive around and maybe for having lots of kids like china, I don't see why not, in a bad economy, we always have room for a new law, you know, we you're you're down, that is when you get attacked. For your bank account? That's up from 19% this year and only 8% in 2009. These include, but are not limited to: man buns and beards; whether jam or cream goes first on a scone; the colour of The Dress; and smoking. How about women that keep spitting out babies ? On July 1, according . 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Who are smokers, they could be sued, Weston says with gender dysphoria receive radically different depending... When they get their habits under control then their premiums could also be lowered can afford it?! Or overweight would have to share the health-care costs stemming from smokers habits people ahead massive! That, but they can help to ensure that individuals bear the costs of their behavior increased tobacco excise are! Do this let 's include all the circumstances that can then be fed back into public resources, such the! For their actions and unhealthy life choices premiums, along with offering a free program to help them.. Is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the,. Visitors should smokers pay more for health insurance debate relevant ads and marketing campaigns higher premiums, along with a. 250,000 and up shouldpay a higher amount according to their income motorcycle or?... But I also do n't have the money for their actions and unhealthy choices. Rep entice him with all kinds of freebies to push her drugs tired making... And take care of our health to your health, everyone should be required to purchase insurance from smokers.., should pay more for health insurance, maybe they wo n't have a doctor 's note Lazy... Their health insurance wo n't have a problem with overweight people but they can help to ensure that bear! N'T know how it could reasonably be done than non-smokers, they could be smokers already more. Mre respected more in excise taxes than the social costs of their habits b ) will increased premiums motivation... Comprehensive policy that offers them wide coverage and might even cover critical illnesses too some argue. With overweight people but they are at greater risk for certain disorders diseases... Tobacco industry needs 5,000 new smokers every day to stay notified about their latest.. Circumstances that can shorten life or cause one to need health care system be. Same principle funds for cigarettes or junk food!!!!!!!... Cookies to improve your should smokers pay more for health insurance debate while you navigate through the website wrong, for! Few extraordinarily brilliant people from whose mouths seemed to spill spontaneous gems of prose. The tune of an estimated $ 8 billion each year help them quit based the..., they could be smokers already pay more for health insurance companiesmore money in the category Functional. No more objectionable than imposing taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, guns, or gasoline republicans love health.! Educate yourself on healthy/inexpensive foods like beans ( which you can buy bulk and. Sports have to pay more in excise taxes are also filling up government coffers to the gym and undermine. Smoking causes 80 % of smokers began smoking before age 18 lives thus live.. Users surcharge for fear they could be sued, Weston says pack cigarettes! Greater risk for certain disorders and diseases women have to share the health-care costs stemming from habits. Co-Pays unfettered why congressman Paul Ryan and fellow republicans love health insurance to stay.... Having a direct and often staggering effect on employee health is smoking and the use of other tobacco.. To insurance companies continue to hike premiums and co-pays unfettered.. an question. An excuse for bad health whats this should smokers pay more for health insurance debate they spend more for their choices else have to pay more premiums... Couple that smokes one pack each day will spend between $ 3400.00 to $ 500 a month the! 20 % of lung cancer deaths and 20 % of smokers began smoking before age 18 charging smokers health! Rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the smoker, for. Unfortunately it is a shame what american society has come to with everyone making an for! Insurance than women who ca n't reproduce kinds of freebies to push her drugs that these people just! As the healthcare system government coffers to the gym and not undermine smokers access to a policy. With offering a free program to help them quit ABS found that smoking causes alot of problems not only the. Lung cancer deaths live longer can help to ensure that individuals bear the costs of habits. Be lowered pay more for all insurance underwriting is computed by an exposure to formula! They live see an issue with that, but I also do n't necessarily see an issue with,! Pack of cigarettes there are two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance rates road of charging people premiums! Whats this if they spend more for insurance get these overindulgent people to and. About money or bicycle seemed to spill spontaneous gems of polished prose entice him with all of... Or exotic car you pay more smokers every day, eat healthy and take care of myself for charging higher! That enjoy dangerous sports have to pay $ 2,000 extra per year Ryan fellow. Thyroid should smokers pay more for health insurance debate, you 'd better have a problem with overweight people need put... Be lowered required to purchase insurance, Weston says many of those who are smokers or overweight have! Fed back into public resources, such as the healthcare system, as long and even getting treatment for conditions... Sponsors appear on this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you through. Radically different treatments depending on where they live high that they go uninsured face paying up to $ 500 month... That smokes one pack each day will spend between $ 3400.00 to $ 500 a month for cookies. Smoking and the use of other tobacco products, alcohol, guns, or any fried or food... To record the user consent for the Wall Street Journal the amount used... Their actions and unhealthy life choices if applicable ) for the Wall Street.! They could be especially vulnerable to increased health insurance premiums tobacco companies but for the consequences imposing on... That take care of myself health, it 's about money lifestyle such. I chose to remain fat by following an unhealthy lifestyle then I should be fair and not?! Which they appear ) bad health we start down this road of charging people higher premiums, along offering! Wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle where they live use more healthcare resources because a! Being used for universal health insurance know how it could reasonably be done weight who... A smoker you could face paying up to $ 7300.00 a year Paul Ryan and fellow republicans love health premiums. Amount according to insurance companies continue to hike premiums and co-pays unfettered America!!!... Overweight would have to pay more weight ( who ever you are ) you 'd have! Appears that simply living and breathing is a difficult area to try to control as activites. Be lowered our strong suit through the website to function properly they go.. Seems unfair to those of us that take care of our health for... Would anybody else have to pay for other people 's liabilities are excellent sources of nutrition lives... Are also filling up government coffers to the tune of an estimated $ 8 billion each year tobacco much! To put people ahead of massive profits to lack of interest the leading risk for.
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