I should be paying the same rate for health insurance as a 21 year old! They choose to smoke, they should be able to take care of the high risk they are taking, and pay for their healthcare! Yes! I don't say this to punish smokers, I say it to get tobacco off the market so it will not impact the lives of today's children. Why would us healthier employees have to foot their hiking rate of insurance for them? Corporate medical syndrome, anyone? We really need a complete national group single payer medical coverage for all. In light of the Petraeus scandal, is anything we do online really private? I believe that working people wether smokers, fat, or just plain ill, should NOT be charged more for health insurance, while individuals that do not work at all get 100% coverage. Its also unclear what happens if you complete a required smoking cessation program at work but do not quit. 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. Because the ACA offers such generous coverage for smoking cessation aids, those charged with its implementation should take extra care to encourage smokers to participate in exchanges and to access the clinical services they need to quit smoking. Many Americans companies have begun making smokers pay more for health insurance. Sure. The fact of the matter is that these people are just enablers. 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. Everyone, no matter who they are or what they do, deserves adequate, affordable healthcare. Why should we pay for other people's liabilities? So smokers seem to be an excellent target to help employers manage costs. 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. Around 60,000 Australian households were quizzed about health insuranceby One Big Switch. We should not discourage smokers from getting insurance. The idea is also dead wrong. Well, if employers require certain employees to pay more, this would join low wages and uncertain tenure as reasons to avoid employers entirely. Jack, when we start down this road of charging people higher premiums based on the choices they make where does it end. And critics of higher rates for smokers say the practice can make health insurance unaffordable for many, especially those with lower incomes. Primary Care, But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. Insurence companies need to put people ahead of massive profits. Jack, I understand your question but how can anyone afford to pay more for Health Care? 2 out of 3 Australians thinks so. If youre coming to Australia on a temporary 600 visa, Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is health insurance that cov From dentists to optometrists, its nice to build a relationship and enjoy that personal touch. Although smoking has yet to be identified as a disability, it often does involve attendant health issues that are disabilities, and a court might accept a claim on the theory that a smoker was regarded as being disabled. 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. Image via iStock, long list of serious and often life-threatening health impacts. thank yu. If that philosophy is applied, then why not charge more for people whose families have a history of cancer of heart disease? Increasingly, companies are answering yes, and asking smokers to pay higher health insurance premiums than their non-smoking colleaguesor even not hiring them altogether. It's not about health, it's about money. So its only fair that people who live unhealthy lifestyles, which increase the costs to those of us who are more responsible, pay more for their choices too. Microenvironment May Predict Sustained MRD Negativity in Newly Diagnosed Myeloma, Promise of CTCs in Metastatic Breast Cancer Management. When you quit smoking, you can effectively reverse some of its effects on your health. Heres how to protect yourself from its side-effects. Why not make health insurance premiums lower for those that take steps to improve their health? 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 (!!! Specifically, they shouldnt have to pay to subsidize the healthcare costs of people who choose to smoke. Those of us who are short people should be ready. Children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria receive radically different treatments depending on where they live. The main problem with the actuarial fairness argument is that different smokers may have different risks. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. 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. After all they are more likely to have higher health care costs! In sane countries with universal healthcare, they already do - the cigarettes are taxed, and a good deal of that tax goes into the national healthcare service to pay for the inevitable. Last month, I rotated in the Bronx at a federally qualified health center. People who use more healthcare resources because of a poor lifestyle choice such as smoking or poor diet should pay more. You start slipping down a slippery slope when you single out select segments of the population. Since smokers tend to have significantly lower incomes than non-smokers, they could be especially vulnerable to increased health insurance costs. HELLO. Look, this isn't about alienating people or being mean for being mean's sake. When you apply for health insurance, you are required to report whether or not you are a smoker. This is exactly why Australia maintains a community-rated system, so the sick aren't priced out of health cover. The statements, opinions, or conclusions expressed here do not necessarily represent the statements, opinions or conclusions of the National Institute for Environmental Health Science, the National Institutes of Health, or the United States government. 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. how tobacco surcharges influence insurance enrollment rates among smokers and non-smokers. So pay up! This is a green light for insurance companies to continue making their own rules. 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 ? Good question. There are two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance rates. If they reinstated it and jacked the rates for unhealthy people it might do a world of good all around. It's only logical, but in liberal politics logic doesn't prevail. Studies have shown thatmonetary incentivescan significantly increase smoking cessation. If more companies took this approach rather than charging higher health premiums, smokers could get help and still be able to keep their health insurance coverage. There is no excuse to smoke or be overweight unless you have a serious condition which can be evaluated by your health care provider. However, before employers can levy the surcharge they must give smokers an opportunity to qualify for nonsmoker rates by offering a way for them to quit. For overweight people, it depends on case by case! absolutely- I am tired of having to give up my seat on the bus to someone who is grossly overweight- you choose to eat fast food I have no problem with that= just don't expect me to cover your heath care costs -when I watch my weight, go to the gym and watch my diet all in the attempt to remain healthy.-and to keep health care costs under control. It only takes a bicycle to drop as much weight as you want while spending less on supermarket junk food. Are we going to ask them to shell out for my extra expenses? On July 1, according . If smokers and over weight people are require to pay more for health insurance, then its consider a penalty. What famous person essentially cancelled themselves Press J to jump to the feed. The price of life insurance is based to an extent on the health of the insured. Smoking clearly impacts health care costs and may legitimately affect premium rates, but are there pitfalls and dangers in imposing premium differentials? 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. instead of providing serious programs to educate, Yes, and those with alcohol related diseases. That goes against everything the Grand Old Party stands for. If your home is large, on a beach, in an earthquake or hurricane zone you pay more. Walmart should set up 'Fat free' zones preferably in parking lots which are devoid of unhealthy foods, treats etc and deny the too chubbies entry into the regular food zones inside their stores. Hospitals charge a kings ransom for a box of Kleenex. It's just that simple. The under-25s are least likely to support the principle of solidarity in healthcare, with almost half saying leading an unhealthy lifestyle is grounds for higher health insurance premiums. Severance, a popular Emmy Award-winning show streaming on Apple TV+, is a rich cultural artifact. So why should healthy people pay subsidize healthcare for unhealthy people? These people should be paying more money for health insurance. Namely, a few states explicitly prohibit discrimination against smokers. Another tax on the poor and middle class in terms of a health insurance "surtax" will not fix the problem. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Hi Jack. C) Is a longer and improved life not a good motivation? No Jack .That is not a solution.A better idea might be to stop the FDA from allowing food procesors from pouring high fructose corn syrup into everything we eat.First you fed us poison and then you blame us for being poisoned.You want less smokers ?stop all price supports to tobacco producers and cigarette companies.the price wil be out of reach. I don't think making them pay more is the answer though. Penalties include higher insurance premiums and deductibles for those who aren't participating in the company's health programs and those engaged in risky health behavior, like smoking. Ethics Consult: Potentially Hasten Baby's Death to Ease Suffering? Of course they should pay more. One recent survey shows the use of penalties is expected to climb next year to include almost 40% of large and medium-sized companies. How would you feel about riding in a car that drives itself? Now with that said, if such a system is forced down my throat should Smokers Pay more taxes for healthcare? life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all, jack. execept for those fat people and smokers. Forget about being able to afford to go to a gym. None of us should have to pay anything for health care. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. There are health issue associated with those folks as well. I don't think it matters that muchwhether you smoke, eat alot, or attack an ant hill in your back yard with a knife and fork. How do I sign up for Medicare when I turn 65? 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. I think our government should ban smoking. Of course people who practice unhealthy activities should pay more for health insurance, just like people who drive dangerously or speed pay higher premiums on their vehicle insurance. How does primary and secondary insurance work? why are "the poor" smoking anyway? Fat people and smokers should pay more absolutly. With the rising cost of health insurance putting a financial squeeze on companies and their employees, some companies now charge smokers more for their health insurance than for non-smokers (assuming, of course, that the company even offers health insurance as a benefit). Got a news tip? "If tobacco users are charged more for health insurance, they should be provided with access to resources to quit," said lead author Michael Pesko, a health economist at Georgia State. Only if we charge more for people who drive cars, motorcycle riders, skiers, people who drink alcohol more than a couple of times a week, people who eat unhealthily, people who live in dangerous neighborhoods, people who have lots of stress, people undergoing divorces, single people, people who engage in unsafe sex, people who say shit to people who might kick their ass, people in groups likely to be targeted by violence, athletes, and people who work desk jobs. Not only should they pay higher costs through employment, but they should fund true universal health care with a $3 or more tax on each pack of cigarettes. My ex-doctor had 9 signs on the wall of his waiting room stating cash for service rendered and no Medicare accepted. My company had a health and fitness program a few years ago, which I enjoyed participating in, but lost interest after a few years. However, there is a potential snowball effect that could wind up with young, healthy people paying peanuts, and elderly people being hit with huge bills for health cover. Smokers face significantly increased health risks, which can drive up the cost of their overall health care, as well as high prices for cigarettes. A complete guide to short-term health insurance. Is PFS Benefit Enough to Support Upfront Transplant in Multiple Myeloma? No. By choosing to smoke, Im increasing my chances of needing more medical care than those who dont smoke. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The idea here is that minorities and certain ethnicities are more likely to be smokers. Sin taxes have never worked, and hurt those in the lower economic brackets much more. The stubborn presence of tobacco use is frustrating considering the plethora of studies that link it to so many debilitating diseases. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This is not about poor genes. Also obese persons with non-preexisting conditions to cause their weight/cholesterol/etc. I don't smoke and am about 10lbs overweight. But then, when people, known as "humans", fall prey to this propaganda blitz and believe that cigarettes make them cool and ice cream will make them happy, then they and they alone are responsible for the consequences? Though I still occasionally meet someone who smokes, the behavior has mostly retreated from populations of higher socioeconomic status and has burrowed itself and its destruction in low income families. No forward thinking piece of legislation intending to improve the health of this country could ignore tobacco use. It is all propaganda, 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. Walk. But what should an employer consider and do when acting on those reasons? Would you ride in a car that drives itself? Tagged as: They do, Jack. What if that person has a contagious disease? Read Pediatric Gender Care: Absence of Evidence Is Not Absence of Efficacy, Read The Cure for Politicized Pediatric Gender Care, Read Moving On from Covid? Jack: Discrimination is against the law. Carol Duh-Leong is a medical student who blogs atProgress Notes. Raise taxes on cigarettes and have that money go towards healthcare. 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. When surcharges are steep, lots of smokers forgo insurance, despite receiving subsidies and/or facing tax penalties. Whether you're a current smoker or in the process of quitting, you can save money on your private health cover by comparing policies. Quitting smoking can reverse some of its effects within years, making you a less likely candidate for heart disease and lung cancer. "My answer is no they should not pay more, they already pay far more than there share of the tax if they smoke, now if they are overly-fat then it is different as they eat through greed and nothing more. Sure they should, as long as drinkers and potheads follow suit. What about those who use to be silm and later became FAT? We, AOL, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. This practice may lead many people to forego health insurance even though they may have to pay a fine under the ACA. for charging me more for healthcare. Compare Club does not compare all products in the market. Or a family history of pancreatic cancer? I'm very fortunate to have medical after retirement(albeit, we all paid for it while working). However if employees have been offered many options to get healthy and they are not taking them then they should be paying more for their health care. An alternative might be to give those of us non-smokers and who are not obese a discount. And harmful behaviors and habits that contribute directly to increased medical bills are a natural, and tempting, target. Or a family history of colon cancer? Get in touch. 88% of smokers began smoking before age 18. But this is not true. Why stop at smokers and the obese. Get free updates delivered free to your inbox. It has had significant effects on obesity throughj dirt control in schools, Tougher laws on DWI are certainly needed, too. If I'm 10 pounds over weight and smoke one cigarette per week, will I have to pay as much as a person who is 100 pounds over weight and smokes two packs per day? Poor people can afford this expensive health hazard luxury? I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. Iranian womens rights movement faces brutal retaliation from government, Doctors trained abroad will save rural health care. Then He Blurted out without being called upon. But remember, smoking is more common among low-income populations, meaning those people have a harder time paying for insurance.
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