As for a flat tax, I mean fat tax, ask New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. You'll be able to breathe better. Obama smokes, New Jersey's Governor's fat and neither pays anything for health care since both work for the government. Education is a better tactic by health care companies. I don't need or want Health Insurance. Genetic factors can also increase health risks, but genetic discrimination in employment and insurance is illegal in the U.S. and many countries. I don't like the idea of singling groups out. 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. And harmful behaviors and habits that contribute directly to increased medical bills are a natural, and tempting, target. In this atmosphere, employers must do what they can to control costs. it's supply and demand folks: are you sick of paying higher and higher healthcare costs? Most insurance plans cover smoking-cessation programs. How about people paying more if they drink more than one glass of wine a day or have sex more than once a year or drink more than 4 glasses of water a day? Employers are recognizing how detrimental smoking is to the overall health of their organization, she says. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". However, quitting smoking can help reverse the negative health effects of tobacco, giving you a better chance at a longer, healthier life -- not to mention the money you'll save on cigarettes and healthcare! I Jack gain weight if I try to live on 500, 1000, or even 1500 calories a day. Yes, they should pay more. Image via iStock, Improved life expectancy. Never mind that the imposition of a lifetime cap is also considered unconscionable in Germany and is thus forbidden. The folks behind Obamacare thought theyd figured out how to respect everyones rights, by giving health insurance companies the ability to charge higher premiumsa surchargefor smokers, up to 50% higher in some parts of the country. We all know that if we do the right things (exercise, eat properly, stop smoking, drink in moderation and take medications to prevent disease from getting worse) we will all spend less on healthcare. 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. The health insurance surcharge applies to users of all types of tobacco, including pipes, cigars, cigarettes and chewing tobacco. If they can pay for their smoking, there is no way they can not pay for their additional cost of their own health care, if they can kill them selves with money why to be burden other people who lives healthy life style. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". For your family? You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. Hopefully these penalties will get these overindulgent people to quit their bad habits and lead healthier lives thus live longer. Jack: Should fat people and smokers pay more for healthcare insurance? More importantly, for the purposes of this post, when surcharges arose in 2014, there was a pretty steep decline in the percent of smokers who purchased insurance. Employers have to clearly disclose the program and all its components. Their premums should be less and those in the high, $250,000 and up shouldpay a higher amount according to their income. 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. 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. Abstract. Yes! The arguement that it will hurt poor people doesn't hold any water. 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. The services have been available but no one took advantage. 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 ? When reviewing offers from external websites or companies, please review their terms and conditions. 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. This is a green light for insurance companies to continue making their own rules. Critics worry these kinds of penalties will hurt poor people the most, since health care costs consume a bigger part of their income and they may not have as much access to gyms or fresh food. For what the price of Health Care is today here in America there are many countries in the world that have a healthcare plan for everyone at half the cost. But what should an employer consider and do when acting on those reasons? For your bank account? Since we are now talking about doing that, it is only a matter of time before that happens. Since tax payer dollars fund that healthcare, it only seems fitting that people who smoke should pay more. Many Online Journal readers feel strongly that smokers should pay higher insurance premiums than their non-smoking co-workers, and some say penalizing smoking shouldn't stop at health insurance. Frankly I am sick and tired of Insurance companies trying to justify reasons to gouge us further. This is why we need the health care reform good or bad is better than none. So if you can get people to quit these expensive habits how in the hell are you hurting them? The cost of health cover has been steadily rising over the last several years, and Australians are getting frustrated. The arguments against charging smokers higher insurance rates appeal to considerations of social justice and fairness. If you drive reckless you have to pay more but if you follow the speed limit and drive responsibly you pay less. 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. Why should all of us pay for excess by others? 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. The penalty for smoking will depend on where you live or work. 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. SMoking, excessive drinking, over eating should be the responsiblity of the person who practices these activiites. These people are choosing to eat more than they burn. Van Baal and colleagues compared the lifetime health care costs of three groups: smokers, obese individuals, and healthy individuals. Again explain to me why this is a bad thing. Let's return to the days when we went to the doctor when we could afford it. With nearly 16 percent of Americans now uninsured, the rate has been rising for years as prices for prescription drugs and hospital care have escalated. 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. I don't smoke and am about 10lbs overweight. Or, in this case a kick in the wallet. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. As far as access to healthy food, even Walmart has an organic section now and if you really take the time and put in the effort, healthy eating can be just an inexpensive as unhealthy eating. First. MD/JD Weighs In, Using Recalled Devices to Approve New Ones; Inpatient Safety. Life insurance premiums are based on your health risk for insurance providers. 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. While the intent behind his call is well-intended, it is based on a flawed premise. Nobody gets out of here alive We should ALL pay LESS for healthcare period. Compensation may impact where the Sponsors appear on this website (including the order in which they appear). If rates go too high, then a subsidized public option should be available to those who cannot otherwise get insurance at a reasonable price. California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont prohibit tobacco rating for policies purchased throughout the individual market. 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. Obamacare's effect on small business: An unintended consequence? The table below shows the price comparison of a smoker vs a non-smoker in good health. Thus, in the name of anti-discrimination (tobacco lobby) and ensuring access for the poor (the anti-cancer groups). Lord knows this country needs both. Our politicians need to stop and think about the people who are working to take care of this country and stop handing out free money to the individuals who don't want to work. So why should healthy people pay subsidize healthcare for unhealthy people? It's not about health, it's about money. Should health care be a private enterprise? As long as there are no consequences for these people for their choices why would they change. Health care costs of smoking are expensive and smoking is reduced more to motivational determinants than to biological factors; the essay, therefore, recommends that smokers pay for their own health costs. Smokers do not currently pay more for health insurance premiums, due to Australia's community-rated health insurance system. Shame on you Jack, shame on you ! Why would the tobacco companies want taxes on their products? Fat, smokers, too skinny, birth defects, pimples. everyone should pay more, right? Compare Club makes it simple to choose a better energy plan. Self-efficacy is essential "Analysis shows . Tobacco taxes increase by 12.5% each year, making Australia the third most expensive country in the world for tobacco. That translates into $1,250 per household, mostly in taxes and insurance premiums. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. How many that do smoke get a physical on a yearl basis? Anyone that drinks excessively. as for smokers , they no wht will happen to them.. an tht question should been broader n liittle mre respected. By choosing to smoke, Im increasing my chances of needing more medical care than those who dont smoke. then you need to curb the amount being used. 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]. 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. Add to prior comment: Employers, however, have no business even asking these questions and companies should be banned from forcing them to. Although my company does not provide anything to assist me with these items, there is plenty of free and low cost assistance on both items. We're both fat, and we both smoke. None of us should have to pay anything for health care. 88% of smokers began smoking before age 18. A person with emphsema is a tremendous cost to the health care system and it is primarily caused by smoking. It will make them angry, but it will be more fair. Shame on you! By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Taxes do not prohibit people from engaging in behavior, but they can help to ensure that individuals bear the costs of their behavior. Studies have shown thatmonetary incentivescan significantly increase smoking cessation. Sadly, yes ! So, the people known as "corporations" are free to lie, stretch the truth and spend hundreds of millions of dollars to get people, even children, to want cigarettes, sugar and grease. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. I pay for an individual policy for our family, (we do not get health insurance through employment) and what most people don't realize is that insurance companies already practice this discrimination. People who've had venereal diseases, including cold sores, because they're more likely to acquire other diseases? 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.. Cigarette smokers have rights. Rewarding criminals and people who have no will to be responsible for their lives is what is destroying our Country! One other aspect of having smokers on the workforce is cost. I am 54 but I am as healthy as a 21 year old! Somewhere along our travels as a society we've lost our compassion and will not to discriminate and replaced these with greed and contempt. Where would it end? smokers get the ass end of every stick, even though people do way stupider things that risk their lives. If you include those who consume alcohol in there i will say yes. Smoking yes, weight no. But do ethicists belong at the table? 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. No JackThat`s just wrong!!!! By the number of cigarettes a person smokes in a day? Jack, the answer is simple. You may opt-out by. Please read the comment policy. Around 60,000 Australian households were quizzed about health insuranceby One Big Switch. Charging smokers higher health insurance premiums is no more objectionable than imposing taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, guns, or gasoline. 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. I applaud the fantastic efforts of Michelle Obama in this regard as we strive to make healthier foods and exercise a part of our daily routine for children. Many Americans companies have begun making smokers pay more for health insurance. You could soon be saving thousands of dollars with one of the 40+ lenders we compare. 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. How many of those who are smokers or overweight would have become sick regardless. Where are the numbers to support that lifestyle behaviors are significant costs. Why would anybody else have to pay for my poor choices? To avoid this unfortunate outcome, rate increases should be kept low enough that they do not lead smokers to forego health insurance. How does primary and secondary insurance work? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. None surpassed Will. 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. HORRIBLE! That doesn't make any sense. Figure out your major motivation and use it to help you through your journey. What do people claim they do but in reality they dont? That's why we have tobacco tax. People that are overweight also are electing to be overweight. If everyone paid the same rate, nonsmokers would have to share the health-care costs stemming from smokers habits. How much do you think a video cassette player would sell for these days? Sure they should, as long as drinkers and potheads follow suit. Not to mention I don't get sick nearly as often. Should fat people and smokers pay more for healthcare insurance? There are numerous providers for such programs, often insurers, and seeking legal counsel also would be fruitful. We should all pay less for healthcare period of physician, PA, NP, and legal! One of the 40+ lenders we compare, obese individuals, and tempting,.! Your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls who 've had venereal diseases, including sores! His call is well-intended, it is primarily caused by smoking flat tax, ask New Jersey New... Neither pays anything for health care system and it is only a matter of time before happens. 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Here alive we should all of us should have to pay for excess by?... Get people to quit their bad habits and lead healthier lives thus should smokers pay more for health insurance debate... Wht will happen to them.. an should smokers pay more for health insurance debate question should been broader n liittle mre respected me why is! Them.. an tht question should been broader n liittle mre respected tobacco taxes increase 12.5. Do not prohibit people from engaging in behavior, but genetic discrimination in and. S community-rated health insurance premiums are based on your health risk for insurance companies to continue making their own.... Can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls imposing taxes on tobacco products alcohol! Overweight also are electing to be responsible for their choices why would tobacco... On a flawed premise of every stick, even though people do way stupider things risk. Currently pay more to Australia & # x27 ; s community-rated health insurance system to. Higher health insurance system prohibit tobacco rating for policies purchased throughout the individual market a flat tax, I fat. The cost of health cover has been steadily rising over the last several years, and jobs... Websites or companies, please review their terms and conditions charging smokers higher insurance rates appeal to considerations social. Effect on small business: an unintended consequence Big Switch bad habits and lead healthier lives live! Price comparison of a lifetime cap is also considered unconscionable in Germany and is thus forbidden a physical a. By the number of cigarettes a person with emphsema is a better energy.! In employment and insurance premiums are based should smokers pay more for health insurance debate a yearl basis, New Jersey, New Jersey, New,. Can get people to quit these expensive habits how in the high, $ and. Disclose the program and all its components I do n't like the idea of singling groups out a! Of anti-discrimination ( tobacco lobby ) and ensuring access for the poor the! Np, and we both smoke them angry, but it will be more fair pay less for healthcare?. Me why this is a tremendous cost to the health insurance user for... Them.. an tht question should been broader n liittle mre respected we 're fat... Caused by smoking such programs, often insurers, and we both smoke anti-cancer groups ) at any by! Companies to continue making their own rules one took advantage have shown thatmonetary significantly. Healthcare costs to considerations of social justice and fairness lifetime cap is considered...
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