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Do you think obese/overweight people should pay more for health insurance?
Replies
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I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
Did you even think about the effect of something like this before you typed this nonsense and hit enter????
Basically, you think that people who have a problem that is out of their control (like auto-immune disorders such as the one that my daughter was BORN with) should pay the GNP in insurance premiums???? Or are you trying to encourage people to ignore health concerns/issues until they they become life threatening and far more expensive to take care of???
So you only want to penalize the non-virtuous sick? Isn't that like only wanting welfare for the virtuous poor? Also if you can't recognize satire, you need to do a little more reading.
Sorry I miss-read that - insurance is a very sore point with me - prolly from having to deal with claims people on a regular basis...0 -
Improving health to reduce cost of medical conditions is important. Charging people more if they are overweight is not the way to do it, when we do not teach children how to be healthy. How many years did it take for you to learn all the in's and out's of weight ? Incentivize people works better, they have a reason to change habits learned from childhood. Teach them in schools, they seem to only eat foods they know, showing them other foods that are good for them helps them learn a better way.
Thyroid cancer, kidney problems, and many other thing cause weight gain. That is why the doctors weigh you when you have an appointment. Big changes in weight are signs that something has changed.
If necessary get them mental health checkups too. Food can be an addiction like so many other thing. The physical result of a mental illness, just like cigarettes/drugs/alcohol.7 -
BurlzGettingFit wrote: »If healthy weight people were to get discounts wouldn't that almost be the same as the rest having to pay more? It's just worded differently but essentially the same thing.
My health insurance also pays for part of a gym membership, but which gyms they do this for is very selective and often times not worth the 30+min commute.
Out of curiosity do you know why they're selective about which gyms they reimburse for? I'd think a gym you join is a gym to be reimbursed for.
I have no idea. I feel like as long as I can prove I'm a member each month that they should be able to give me 25 dollars a month, but maybe that's wishful thinking hahaha.
I agree! And if my employer was that choosy I couldn't be involved! The gym I joined I do like but the main reason I picked that one was because proximity to where I live! I pass it everyday on the way home from work so there's no skipping
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Just because I am overweight does not mean that I have health problems. I am overweight, but I don't have any health issues so why should the number on the scale dictate what I should be paying for healthcare. Thin people may have health issues as well. Should they pay less just because they are thin?5
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I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
You got to be kidding!
Do you realize that to be and stay healthy people need to keep up with some tests and doctors’ visits?
So, women need to pay more for PAPs and GYN exams, mammograms, etc. If you get a cold or the flu, kidney stones, gallbladder problems, and the list goes on and on, you may need to see a doctor and take prescribed medications, have lab work or scans. Dam lets charge them a 50% surcharge for that. How do they dare to be so sick!
PCOS, thyroid problems, Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s and pre-existing conditions to name a few, are not conditions that people brought on themselves. Are you suggesting that they pay a high surcharge for their treatment?
I am glad that you are so healthy that you never need to go to the doctor or get any test or lab work. Bless your heart!
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I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
You got to be kidding!
For the record, she was completely kidding. On the contrary, she's been very open about discussing her health issues as well as her mother's health issues in the past. However, she also paraphrased Paul Ryan (the US Speaker of the House) in her last sentence, and he wasn't kidding. That's the part that's REALLY scary.11 -
I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
You got to be kidding!
...
I am glad that you are so healthy that you never need to go to the doctor or get any test or lab work. Bless your heart!
Normally I will make a comment when I see that phrase, but in this case I heartily agree.0 -
I feel like the US for profit system leads to a lot of unnecessary yearly check ups. But maybe I'm wrong.
Also, the gym reimbursement thing. I'd be screwed, I workout at home and more than 8 times per month. where's my reward!? (I understand the point but I still have to buy things to workout that are likely in line with gym memberships such as foam rollers, mats, dumbbells etc).1 -
prettygirlstorm1 wrote: »Just because I am overweight does not mean that I have health problems. I am overweight, but I don't have any health issues so why should the number on the scale dictate what I should be paying for healthcare. Thin people may have health issues as well. Should they pay less just because they are thin?
It's called a risk pool, and you belong to a higher risk pool than those who aren't overweight.4 -
I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
Did you even think about the effect of something like this before you typed this nonsense and hit enter????
Basically, you think that people who have a problem that is out of their control (like auto-immune disorders such as the one that my daughter was BORN with) should pay the GNP in insurance premiums???? Or are you trying to encourage people to ignore health concerns/issues until they they become life threatening and far more expensive to take care of???
So you only want to penalize the non-virtuous sick? Isn't that like only wanting welfare for the virtuous poor? Also if you can't recognize satire, you need to do a little more reading.
One of the problems with the discourse around health care in the US is that it is increasingly hard to tell who is deploying satire and who isn't. We have US Representatives making statements about how healthy people are those who have led "good lives."9 -
Carillon_Campanello wrote: »Slippery slope IMHO.
1st...smokers.
2nd...obesity.
next????
Genetic predispositions based on DNA.
What you ate for dinner.
How much sleep you get.
How fast you drive your car to work.
What type of activities you do or don't participate in after work hours.
Where does it stop?
You're worrying about stuff that's already happened.- Your car insurance will go up if you drive too fast to work. At least once you get caught.
- Many health insurance companies give out discounts for people who exercise outside of work hours. This is the only reason I care about step tracking, because it gets me $$$ back.
- What we're talking about isn't so much what I ate for dinner as how much I ate.
Now this sounds pretty bad, until you stop and think about it. If something bad happens and break your arm, the hospital will fix you up. If you have insurance, this won't cost you $20,000. Now that's pretty great. It works because big groups of people get together and pool their risk. So, now we have this situation where peoples' individual choices affect everyone else. Some people bring more risk into the pool, and others pick up the slack. That's what insurance is. It's not a system people set up so they could discriminate against folks who already feel bad.4 - Your car insurance will go up if you drive too fast to work. At least once you get caught.
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VintageFeline wrote: »I feel like the US for profit system leads to a lot of unnecessary yearly check ups. But maybe I'm wrong.
Also, the gym reimbursement thing. I'd be screwed, I workout at home and more than 8 times per month. where's my reward!? (I understand the point but I still have to buy things to workout that are likely in line with gym memberships such as foam rollers, mats, dumbbells etc).
The reason my employer started the gym reimbursement was because they used to offer a different variety of free fitness classes throughout the week here at the agency. When those were stopped (I have no idea why they were) a lot of people were very upset and then the gym reimbursement was created. I had a gym membership way before this started so I'd be part of a gym regardless but doesn't mean I'm not going to take advantage of it while I'm able!0 -
"janejellyroll wrote: »We have US Representatives making statements about how healthy people are those who have led "good lives."
Speaking of things that are scary... Bleh. That smacks of the Prosperity Gospel in action.
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"janejellyroll wrote: »We have US Representatives making statements about how healthy people are those who have led "good lives."
Speaking of things that are scary... Bleh. That smacks of the Prosperity Gospel in action.
The "prosperity gospel" aka the Protestant Ethic has been strong in the US since the first colonies were founded. Nothing new here.2 -
NO ... it's discrimination. Should we charge based on age, nationality or better yet ... lower income individuals since we know it is more expensive to eat healthy?? Absolutely not ... but providing resources to programs that encourage healthier eating and fitness could help.
ACA already allowed insurances to charge up to 3 times more to older individuals (not in Medicare of course), and for what I read about the new health law being discussed in the House, insurances will be allowed to charge up to 5 times more.
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I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
You got to be kidding!
For the record, she was completely kidding. On the contrary, she's been very open about discussing her health issues as well as her mother's health issues in the past. However, she also paraphrased Paul Ryan (the US Speaker of the House) in her last sentence, and he wasn't kidding. That's the part that's REALLY scary.
This is the internet, so we don't “see” facial expressions and we interpret the comments as written. The posting system has emoticon so if people are kidding our using sarcasm, they need to clarify their position by using one. I am not the only one that probably miss-interpreted that comment. My bad, put the poster needs to take some responsibility too.8 -
I will add something else to stir the pot. If insurance premiums are supposed to be higher for overweight/fat/obese people, should all of our representatives in Congress, Governors’ mansions and even (or specially) the WH that fit that profile get charged more too
even if they have state or federal insurance?
After all, we the tax payer in the US are paying for their insurance, don't we?6 -
I will add something else to stir the pot. If insurance premiums are supposed to be higher for overweight/fat/obese people, should all of our representatives in Congress, Governors’ mansions and even (or specially) the WH that fit that profile get charged more too even if they have state or federal insurance?
After all, we the tax payer in the US are paying for their insurance, don't we?
Definitely. I would argue that the plans available to them should be the median of what's available to their constituency--no more "Cadillac" plans for them, no more of the laws that they are writing not applying to them.10 -
I will add something else to stir the pot. If insurance premiums are supposed to be higher for overweight/fat/obese people, should all of our representatives in Congress, Governors’ mansions and even (or specially) the WH that fit that profile get charged more too even if they have state or federal insurance?
After all, we the tax payer in the US are paying for their insurance, don't we? Good one 2 -
prettygirlstorm1 wrote: »Just because I am overweight does not mean that I have health problems. I am overweight, but I don't have any health issues so why should the number on the scale dictate what I should be paying for healthcare. Thin people may have health issues as well. Should they pay less just because they are thin?
Statistically if you are significantly overweight/obese you will have more healthcare costs in your lifetime,2 -
Insurance companies have way too much control over our healthcare as it is. Nothing good will come out of us giving them even more control.9
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By this logic, anyone who does things that are detrimental to their health should be charged extra for health insurance... people who don't get enough exercise, people who eat unhealthy, people who have unsafe sex or many sex partners, people who work in coal mines or with pesticides. You can't pick and choose
People who provide insurance can pick and choose. That's why they have actuaries.2 -
Packerjohn wrote: »prettygirlstorm1 wrote: »Just because I am overweight does not mean that I have health problems. I am overweight, but I don't have any health issues so why should the number on the scale dictate what I should be paying for healthcare. Thin people may have health issues as well. Should they pay less just because they are thin?
Statistically if you are significantly overweight/obese you will have more healthcare costs in your lifetime,
Statistics are just too general.
I've been hospitalized exactly one time and take one medication. My physicals are stellar. I know it will not last if I stay obese but I also know that I've used medical services far less than many other people, both obese and normal weight. So no, I shouldn't have to pay a "surcharge" for services I'm not availing myself of. If I don't lose the weight and develop diabetes and cholesterol and all the other issues of obesity, then by all means charge me, but as long as I can demonstrate healthy blood panels and a general level of fitness, buzz off with that nonsense.2 -
loisburch59 wrote: »Improving health to reduce cost of medical conditions is important. Charging people more if they are overweight is not the way to do it, when we do not teach children how to be healthy. How many years did it take for you to learn all the in's and out's of weight ? Incentivize people works better, they have a reason to change habits learned from childhood. Teach them in schools, they seem to only eat foods they know, showing them other foods that are good for them helps them learn a better way.
Thyroid cancer, kidney problems, and many other thing cause weight gain. That is why the doctors weigh you when you have an appointment. Big changes in weight are signs that something has changed.
If necessary get them mental health checkups too. Food can be an addiction like so many other thing. The physical result of a mental illness, just like cigarettes/drugs/alcohol.
And some people have valid reasons for having a bad driving record, doesn't change that overall it's helpful to charge the group a bit more, varied rates does motivate the vast majority to improve their self control.2 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I feel like the US for profit system leads to a lot of unnecessary yearly check ups. But maybe I'm wrong.
Also, the gym reimbursement thing. I'd be screwed, I workout at home and more than 8 times per month. where's my reward!? (I understand the point but I still have to buy things to workout that are likely in line with gym memberships such as foam rollers, mats, dumbbells etc).
That's why the wellness assessments we have to complete to receive $$ to use on gym equipment, running shoes etc is a good idea. As an example quarterly we may have to do a nutrition education online quiz that earns us $ 30.00. I have bought new runners , put money towards a new bike and I even submitted a snorkel set and they allowed it. It has to be related to physical activity. I just wish it was a bit improved but it is a step in the right direction. I believe prevention is more important than treating .
They would cover my medications if I needed medication for hypertension if I was obese. But if you are healthy and don't need any treatments you are not rewarded? yes, I realize there are thin people who have hypertension but it has been proven that if you are obese you have a greater chance of being treated for health issues so it would make sense that the health premiums would be higher
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SiegfriedXXL wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »prettygirlstorm1 wrote: »Just because I am overweight does not mean that I have health problems. I am overweight, but I don't have any health issues so why should the number on the scale dictate what I should be paying for healthcare. Thin people may have health issues as well. Should they pay less just because they are thin?
Statistically if you are significantly overweight/obese you will have more healthcare costs in your lifetime,
Statistics are just too general.
I've been hospitalized exactly one time and take one medication. My physicals are stellar. I know it will not last if I stay obese but I also know that I've used medical services far less than many other people, both obese and normal weight. So no, I shouldn't have to pay a "surcharge" for services I'm not availing myself of. If I don't lose the weight and develop diabetes and cholesterol and all the other issues of obesity, then by all means charge me, but as long as I can demonstrate healthy blood panels and a general level of fitness, buzz off with that nonsense.
Insurance is based on assigning risks to "pools" or groups of similar individuals based on a set of characteristics. It is designed to look a the statistics of stratified groups and assign a level of risk to the group. I had a good job and bought a "high risk" vehicle as an under 25 year old male. Even though I never had a ticket or an accident, I had to pay more than a 24 year old female or a 50 yo male because of the risks associated with those in my risk pool driving a similar car. If I choose to live on a flood plain, my insurance and my neighbors will be more than those with the same house on higher ground. Even if there hasn't been a flood in the 3 years I lived there.
As far as statistics being too general. You are a male in a certain age range. There is an actuarially calculated amount that someone in that class will consume in reimbursable health insurance costs on an annual basis. The company prices the policy in general to be able to pay those costs for the group, operating expenses, plus make some profit. By further stratifying the group by weight, since obese in the group will use more insurance resources, charging extra for obese individuals is making the process more specific.
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I say that people who use health care should have to pay more for insurance. Put a 50% increase on your premium for each doctor visit. Another 50% increase for every prescription. 50% if you need lab tests or any scans. It's not fair healthy people pay for sick people.
That is an awful, awful idea. My husband, who suffers from severe sinus issues (has his whole life) should have to pay 200% more each year just to get prescriptions for sinus infections?
Edit: I have now read through other postings and see that she was being sarcastic, it sure did come across as straight though, and I see I'm not the only one that thought that.4 -
Packerjohn wrote: »SiegfriedXXL wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »prettygirlstorm1 wrote: »Just because I am overweight does not mean that I have health problems. I am overweight, but I don't have any health issues so why should the number on the scale dictate what I should be paying for healthcare. Thin people may have health issues as well. Should they pay less just because they are thin?
Statistically if you are significantly overweight/obese you will have more healthcare costs in your lifetime,
Statistics are just too general.
I've been hospitalized exactly one time and take one medication. My physicals are stellar. I know it will not last if I stay obese but I also know that I've used medical services far less than many other people, both obese and normal weight. So no, I shouldn't have to pay a "surcharge" for services I'm not availing myself of. If I don't lose the weight and develop diabetes and cholesterol and all the other issues of obesity, then by all means charge me, but as long as I can demonstrate healthy blood panels and a general level of fitness, buzz off with that nonsense.
Insurance is based on assigning risks to "pools" or groups of similar individuals based on a set of characteristics. It is designed to look a the statistics of stratified groups and assign a level of risk to the group. I had a good job and bought a "high risk" vehicle as an under 25 year old male. Even though I never had a ticket or an accident, I had to pay more than a 24 year old female or a 50 yo male because of the risks associated with those in my risk pool driving a similar car. If I choose to live on a flood plain, my insurance and my neighbors will be more than those with the same house on higher ground. Even if there hasn't been a flood in the 3 years I lived there.
Thank you for making me not the only person in this thread who gets how a risk pool works and that it doesn't matter what your individual feelings about it are.8 -
crazyycatladyy1 wrote: »IMO, until the US healthcare system isn't a FOR PROFIT venture, people will end up spending their retirement income and savings on it. See how much it costs to get hospitalized or how much medication costs for people who need it. It's pretty astounding and outrageous.
We could pay for ALL AMERICANS healthcare, it's just that our government chooses to spend more of taxes towards the military might instead.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Dd was hospitalized a couple weeks ago and so far we have a $7,000 hospital bill pending. That will probably be for the ER (which in the past has run us around $1,000), and then most likely her one night stay, (since the claim is pending it doesn't have the breakdown available yet for what services it's for).
I have nothing to add, but I'm not in the US so i'm curious. What if you didn't have the ability to pay the bill for the hospital? Or if you had no insurance? Surly a hospital would still give a critically ill person the same service? I mean, no parent would ever be told "we can save your child as long as you can pay X amount..."
right??
It's been a long time since I lived in the U.S. (Iowa), so it may have changed. Emergency care had to be given to anyone regardless of non-payment or non-insurance. The hospital couldn't deny care to someone who came in to the ER for help. You can have your life saved, but get the bill later. It's how many people go bankrupt/broke/homeless/end up on GoFundMe trying to payoff medical bills simply because they wanted to live.
I have often wondered if these people whose lives are "saved" end up wishing they had died after all when they end up struggling so much financially afterwards. What is the point of living if your quality of life is absolute crap?0 -
If healthy weight people were to get discounts wouldn't that almost be the same as the rest having to pay more? It's just worded differently but essentially the same thing.
My health insurance also pays for part of a gym membership, but which gyms they do this for is very selective and often times not worth the 30+min commute.
If health companies really cared about it's subscribers, they would make sure you have all the tools to be healthy. Such as paying for gym memberships, etc.
Nobody NEEDS a gym to be healthy. I was obese for many years while belonging to a gym. Now, I am a healthy weight and haven't belonged to a gym for many years. You can exercise outside or at home. It's great if an insurance company will subsidize gyms, but by no means should it be required or expected. The more they pay for the more expensive premiums are by necessity. People complain about some people not having insurance...well, forcing/pressuring insurance companies to pay for things that aren't medically necessary will only make this problem worse.
Must they subsidize people's grocery bills if they check purchases and they didn't buy sugary drinks and foods?
Must they pay for people's sunscreen so they are less likely to develop skin cancer?
Must they pay people who walk any distance under a mile instead of drive, or take the stairs instead of the elevator?
Must they pay people to use their seatbelts?
Must they pay people not to bike or rollerblade without a helmet?
These are ALL "tools to be healthy". It is unreasonable to expect an insurance company to subsidize your lifestyle.
I really believe insurance should be for things you CAN"T DO ON YOUR OWN but are necessary for health...not a bunch of healthy habits you should be willing to pay for yourself because YOU care about yourself. If you don't care enough to pay for these things, why should the insurance company pay for them? If you don't care enough to spend your own money on it, you probably won't use it even if it was "free" (meaning subsidized by other people's premiums.) And in that case the insurance company would be throwing money away with no improvement in health outcomes.
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