Smokers, obese workers penalized with higher health insuranc

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NiciS72
NiciS72 Posts: 1,043 Member
in Chit-Chat
Thought this was quite interesting. Makes me so much gladder that I am on the right path and won't have to worry about this in the near future!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45335553/ns/health-the_new_york_times/

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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,619 Member
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    It's no different than a bad driver paying higher insurance or paying higher insurance for anything that is more prone to cost if something happens.





    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • adjones5
    adjones5 Posts: 938 Member
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    It's no different than a bad driver paying higher insurance or paying higher insurance for anything that is more prone to cost if something happens.





    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    I agree.
  • sarahgilmore
    sarahgilmore Posts: 572 Member
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    PENALISED? lol

    It's only fair, in my opinion.
  • Victoriav99
    Victoriav99 Posts: 260 Member
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    It's no different than a bad driver paying higher insurance or paying higher insurance for anything that is more prone to cost if something happens.





    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition


    Could not have said it better!
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
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    My company just signed up for a program that offers 180 dollars off your premiums just for doing a health assessment, then every quarter you can get another 30 for doing certain actions like logging exercise (or well, you earn points for each thing you do and then if you get 100 points per quarter you get the 30).

    I think programs like that are kinder, but I don't imagine it will be all that successful in helping people lose weight or stop smoking
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,022 Member
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    I'm all for people paying more for their insurance if they are a bigger drain on the system, but using BMI to brand people as "obese" is a terrible idea. I'm surprised that a university is using a policy like that.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
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    I worked as an Advanced Medical Biller for 26 different specialties of medicine... and I can definitely tell you, not only is this practice legal, but its definitely legitimate and should be done.

    Smokers require more healthcare visits for respiratory-related and circulatory-related care.

    Obese patients tend to require more healthcare visits that are either or a combination of Endo, Derma, OBGYN(F), Cardiac, GI, Osteo, Diabetic, Bariatric... and unfortunately in some severe cases, all of the above.

    Insurance rates are very competitive - who can offer the best package? Will your employer be capable of handing those rates? What percentage will the employee be financially responsible for? What are the hidden costs of having said-plan?

    The plan I have from work increases the premiums the employee pays by about 35% more. And TRUST me, the insurance company WILL KNOW if you are a smoker or not.... and if you lie to them, you risk suffering some serious State and Federal sanctions, penalties and/or jail time depending on the severity... Ive seen it happen.. Ive had calls from patients asking me to change the diagnosis on their medical claims because they were a smoker... and I legally cant do that due to fraud laws if there is no need to change it.

    There ARE though, INCENTIVES offered in most plans provided your company wants those types of plans.... For example: If you have a history of losing weight, currently on a weight-loss program, under the care of a specialist for weight loss, premiums could also be lowered as well! OR - you could have a benefit in your insurance package that reimburses you for your fees (Weight Watcher's membership fees, Gym membership fees, etc)... I have BOTH!

    Taking steps to be healthier can actually be a financial gain, while you lose.


    For smokers, if they can prove through their PCP's that they are currently in a cessation program, or seeing a behavioral health physician for a documented diagnosis of tobacco addiction attributed to other factors, the insurance program requires proof, and therefore you can get the regular insurance premium rates as a non-smoker, BUT, it requires proof of documentation each and every time and requires a time-line to be accomplished. Each plan has their own criteria...
  • ninjapixie87
    ninjapixie87 Posts: 124 Member
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    My company just started doing this with the upcoming year's insurance, and we all had to go through a biometric screening. Rather than being "penalized", we get a discount for meeting certain target ranges for stuff like BMI and cholesterol. If someone doesn't meet that range, but they make certain progress towards that range, they also get the discount. And there is a seperate discount for being tobacco free or successfully completing a "cessation" program. And of course, you can get a medical waiver if you need to, and still get the discount.

    For me, I think this program is great. If will save me money on my health insurance premiums. But the real benefit for me was that when I did my biometric screening, I discovered that I had finally hit the "overweight" range in both BMI and body fat percentage. That was my "wake-up call" to get back into shape, and that's the reason I started counting calories and joined MFP. Hopefully it has the same effect on others.
  • Mios3
    Mios3 Posts: 530 Member
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    The hospital I work for has also implemented these "surcharges" for our insurance as well. They now require smokers (which I am not) to sign a pledge to quit smoking, and also complete various "wellness challenges" to recieve their wellness credit so as not to pay the surcharge. Since starting here on MFP I have not had a problem completing these challenges. I think that we should
    all make some sort of effort to live healthier lives and if other employees don't want to then why should I have to pay a higher premium for them. Let them pay the higher premiums for their unhealthy habits.

    I guess the one thing I didn't agree with in this article was the use of BMI. Other than that I agree.
  • kicklikeaGIRL
    kicklikeaGIRL Posts: 867 Member
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    This has already been implemented at my workplace, mostly for smokers. Smoker premiums are almost double a non-smoker's premium for health insurance. If they opt to not choose the "smoker premium" when they are indeed a smoker, they are required to be on the highest deductible insurance plan our health plan offers.

    Each time we renew our insurance we have to give them all of our health stats. My guess is that in the near future we will also be moving toward higher premiums for obesity as well.

    Our insurance company has some incentives for those who are obese, they have opportunities to particpate for free in counseling and have a free online and personal coach (phone) through the Mayo Clinic, I believe. They can get nutritional help, exercise help, and can get discounts on local gym memberships. Even if you aren't obese, you have the opportunity to participate if you'd like to become healthier or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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