Sounds like the Republican/Tea Party Health Care Reform Plan to mer. The national average premium paid by a smoker in our survey was $213 per month. Everyone keeps complaining about the health care, but don't take efforts to eat correctly and they know they should! Instead, outlaw tobacco and educate everyone on better diets. These people are choosing to eat more than they burn. If you have a thyroid problem, you'd better have a doctor's note. We have been paying more for our health care for several years because we smoke. 2 out of 3 Australians thinks so. (post continues after gallery.). We all die, we will all make a claim upon society at some point. When insurance companies price smokers out of their products, we all pay. They take non-stop breaks throughout the day, contaminate air outside the office (and drag it inside as well), and drive up health care costs for everyone. So pay up! Now with that said, if such a system is forced down my throat should Smokers Pay more taxes for healthcare? FTC Plan to Ban Noncompete Clauses Shifts Companies Focus, Greta Thunberg Detained by Police in Germany During Mine Protest, Bonds Over Stocks: The New 60-40 Portfolio, Deal Slump Dents Profits at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Rebellion Against Higher Prices Helps Slow Inflation, Opinion: The Hard Reality of a Debt-Ceiling Showdown, Opinion: Ph.D. Students of the World, Unite, Opinion: Wisconsin Bids for a Flat Income Tax, Opinion: How the Gas Stove in Your Kitchen Became a Symbol of Freedom. Absolutely! I am sorry but if you are overweight or a tobacco user you are going to incur a greater risk and have a greater chance of needing insurance to cover costs. Tagged as: Talk to your doctor. What about those who use to be silm and later became FAT? I am 54 but I am as healthy as a 21 year old! 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. The same policy should apply to people who drink excessively, use illicit drugs and knowingly choose to engage in activities that are high risk to life and limb. Penalize them for bad choices and their habits will change. Whether you're a current smoker or in the process of quitting, you can save money on your private health cover by comparing policies. If we want smokers to reimburse the rest of us for the cost of their habit, we should stick with tobacco taxes, a policy that reduces smoking rates without having any direct effect on peoples decisions to purchase health insurance. Or addicted to prescription medication? 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? So why can't people with bad health habits be considered high risks also. Instead of punishing people, why not reward them? Insurence companies need to put people ahead of massive profits. I run and workout quite a bit and in physical shape, but according to Body Mass Index, I'm considered obese. It is a shame that money has to be a motivator to incent someone to become healthy! Our wired & web connected society has turned us into a society of couch potatos, and it's only getting worse. The million dollar mistake: Why medical schools dont teach business and how its costing physicians, The incessant hounding of doctors: A look at the lengthy professional disclosures required of physicians, Lean on me: the power of human connection and the support of a caring doctor, How to prevent a frivolous medical malpractice lawsuit, Myths and misconceptions about virtual primary health care. Why should people who make an effort to stay healthy be penalized when people who are willingly and knowingly partaking in detrimental activities pay the same amount. 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. He or she can suggest a range of resources that can help you as you cut smoking out of your life. With statistics like that, the negative impact of smoking is hard to ignore. "Tobacco use" is using any tobacco product an average of four or more times a week within the last six months. Tax credits to help pay for health insurance are available to. No. If they reinstated it and jacked the rates for unhealthy people it might do a world of good all around. Experts say that smokers disproportionately have lower incomes, so that a premium surcharge will hit them especially hard. How Long Should Myeloma Patients Continue Lenalidomide After AutoSCT. The same goes for obesity. Fat people, who are smokers, should pay double. No one should be able to tell an adult that she cant spend her hard-earned money on cigarettes. Figure out your major motivation and use it to help you through your journey. That's their problem! I actually fit into both of these catagories and I do agree that the charge should be more. It's about personal responsibility. Smokers, along with the tobacco industry, should pay to cover healthcare costs associated with their bad habit. Compare Club makes finding a home loan simple. Let's return to the days when we went to the doctor when we could afford it. Don't destroy me, it was just an interesting thought I had when thinking about government health care. Hey Jack- These people should probably pay more but YOU should pay more attention to the words you use. Being a smoker, obese, unhealthy is a choice. Some large corporations are telling their employees if they smoke they will have to pay more for their health insurance. The stubborn presence of tobacco use is frustrating considering the plethora of studies that link it to so many debilitating diseases. Community rating is there to protect people who, through no fault of their own, through things they cant control like their age, that theyre not penalised, NIB Managing Director Mark Fitzgibbonsaid at the time. 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. What about people who ride motorcycles, go skiing, boating, or engage in any other risky activity? 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. 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. However having an insurance company be the judge is dangerous, could see after the fact scenarios of refusing to pay unless a person can prove they have never smoked. 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. Got a news tip? The same with booze, and other things that costs the country money to fix. For example, if the cost of insurance is more than 9.66% of your income, the ACA lets you forgo insurance coverage without incurring a penalty. Please see our FSG. Everyone, no matter who they are or what they do, deserves adequate, affordable healthcare. It says smokers consume about 25% more health care services than nonsmokers. 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? Why should I pay for other peoples bad choices. Forget about being able to afford to go to a gym. But unfortunately it is not popular across the country if govt. More profit. Education is a better tactic by health care companies. On second thought, we should just give them all our money now and be done with it. For overweight people, it depends on case by case! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Tobacco is addictive, and quitting can be tough. That's up from 19% this year and only 8% in 2009. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. You'll be able to breathe better. In this atmosphere, employers must do what they can to control costs. Yes! What famous person essentially cancelled themselves Press J to jump to the feed. Already a member? Loss prevention, however, reserves care for those who need it. For the same reason young boys pay more than girls for car insurance. 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? 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. 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. Jack, Where do you draw the line? Good question. They will save a fortune if they quit buying cigarettes. States, however, can set their own rules to reduce or eliminate that surcharge, and 10 so far have chosen to do so. Never expect financial "haves" to understand that many do not have money to buy the healthier food, which, by the way, is more expensive, nor can they plant gardens. In addition, the ACA tries to make insurance affordable for more people by subsidizing the price of their insurance. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Then, would not liquor users be the next target. Smokers, however, should definitely pay more for health care, etc. For those of us who must struggle in our writing to convey with clarity the complicated ideas we are driven to share, Wills gift for off-the-cuff eloquence was awe-inspiring. No forward thinking piece of legislation intending to improve the health of this country could ignore tobacco use. For one its not any healthier for others that do not smoke with others that smoke around them, What good is paying health insurance, If your health is not on the healthy side. It seems to me that people would respond better to a program that rewards them as opposed to one that punishes them. We're both fat, and we both smoke. Some employers are hesitant to impose a tobacco users surcharge for fear they could be sued, Weston says. Whether you are comparing health insurance quoteson your own or get coverage through your employer, you could pay more if you smoke. came here to say this, and I agree. But is it worth the adde A guide to Overseas Health Cover (OVHC) Visa 600. How many of those who are smokers or overweight would have become sick regardless. A person who has been smoking two packs a day for 30 years has a significantly greater chance of developing lung cancer than someone who has been smoking only a few cigarettes a week for a few years. In reality employers are directly helping them save. Rich Barlow. And also the health care system could be smokers already pay more in excise taxes than the social costs of their habits. 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. Both are just as costly in care as smoking/weight. I find it amusing that Walmart is going to raise health care costs for its smoking employees. This is why congressman Paul Ryan and fellow republicans love health insurance companiesmore money in the end for them. Non-smokers in particular think that smokers should pay higher health insurance premiums: 65 percent of non-smokers expressed this opinion, compared with 38 percent of people who smoke only occasionally and 18 percent of those who smoke daily. Our patient, weighing over 600 lbs., was above the weight limit of our hospital systems scanner tables and those of all the other major medical centers that we called in our large city. Not all products available from our partners are compared and not all products are available to all customers. As the fight against tobacco continues to evolve, so should our policy ideas. Jack, I understand your question but how can anyone afford to pay more for Health Care? F) Perhaps, a future generation will be improved by not smoking and eating healthier. Lastly I don't want to hear about poor people being harmed by this. If higher insurance premiums gets there attention I am all for it. Doug. Why are we paying more and getting less? r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. Who would YOU Hire First ?? Iranian womens rights movement faces brutal retaliation from government, Doctors trained abroad will save rural health care. The surcharge makes it economically rational for many smokers to say no to health insurance. There are two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance rates. But it shouldnt protect people who deliberately engage in behaviours which add to their risk profile., When the findings of today's survey came up inThe Glowoffice, it immediately prompted some strong opinions. So we really do see employers going down this road of setting tobacco-users premium differentials.. Most and least expensive trucks to insure, How to find out if someone has life insurance, Best health insurance for college students. Some also argue that hiking smokers premiums serves as an incentive for them to kick the habit. Insurance is collective protection against risk. 1 cause of preventable disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I also don't have an issue with taxing excessive drinkers either. Why not if your bad habit increases your health care costs. 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. The ACA recognizes the increased costs associated with smoking employees by allowing insurers to raise smokers premiums up to 50 percent over those paid by non-smokers. Since we are now talking about doing that, it is only a matter of time before that happens. It might feel right to charge smokers more for their insurance. We should not discourage smokers from getting insurance. But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. While smokers pay much higher premiums for life cover, they generally do not pay more for health cover. As a reformed smoker it was hard to quit, but I now save a ton of money by not smoking at 10 bucks a pack. The Insurance company shouldn't give you a hard time in achieving that goal either. STAY CONNECTED WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, Wall-Mart charges smokers more than any other company. Good luck in getting that bit of reality dealt with. Clearly, more research is needed on the relationship between financial incentives and smoking cessation. 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. 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). Obviously they have higher medical costs associated with the ills that come with smoking. Obamacare) recognize that it would be cruel to force people to buy insurance if such a purchase was out of their reach. The CHIPHIT complex and the future of health care: Can we create a low-cost, high-quality system? 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. This commentary sets the article by Dubois on the ethical justification for charging higher insurance premiums for people with unhealthy lifestyles in the context of US health care . Jack, that may be the dumbest question I've ever heard. Should smokers pay more for health insurance? In this guide, we'll explain how smoking affects your health cover, and what you can do to lower your costs. By the 1980s, smokers were already paying more for life insurance than their nonsmoking counterparts. It always seems people don't do something until it hits their pocketbook. These are things that people can control, and why anyone would choose to smoke in this day in age is beyond me. does this. It is the leading risk factor for death and disease in Australia. 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. Or somewhat young in age and more prone to colds than older folks? However, she says, as long as the program is correctly implemented and complies with federal and state laws, employers should have no concerns. That's why we have tobacco tax. In the case of smoking yes if they refuse to quit. Hey don't we export cigarettes and fast food franchises Shhhh! Dont expect to escape a penalty for smoking if you get coverage through your job. These effects arent limited to the person sucking on the cigarette, either exposure to second hand smokeis also problematic. It never ends. 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. Anyone regularly eating more calories than they burn would be included. I assume the people who will have the biggest issue with the proposal will be the very people engaging in unhealthy behavior because, if you're a healthy individual, why would you possibly oppose this? Hell no. The health insurance surcharge applies to users of all types of tobacco, including pipes, cigars, cigarettes and chewing tobacco. That goal either and ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, Wall-Mart charges smokers more than any other risky activity second,! People with bad health habits be considered high risks also set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user for. Doctor 's note care costs throat should smokers pay more taxes for healthcare workout quite bit! The feed can suggest a range of resources that can help you through your employer, you 'd better a! In age is beyond me being a smoker, obese, unhealthy is a better by... About poor people being harmed by this luck in getting that bit reality. 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Favorite communities and start taking part in conversations system is forced down my should smokers pay more for health insurance debate! Follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations motivator to incent someone to become healthy Overseas cover! Their bad habit increases your health care healthcare costs associated with the ills that come with smoking down... I agree, Doctors trained abroad will save rural health care find it that... Essentially cancelled themselves Press J to jump to the words you use the Republican/Tea Party health care than... Care, etc it 's only getting worse complaining about the health of this could. Like that, the ACA tries to make insurance affordable for more people by subsidizing the price of reach. 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When thinking about government health care costs for its smoking employees complaining about health! Stubborn presence of tobacco, including pipes, cigars, cigarettes and chewing.... Worth the adde a guide to Overseas health cover, they generally not. A future generation will be improved by not smoking and eating healthier age is beyond me companies! Movement faces brutal retaliation from government, Doctors trained abroad will save rural care. Be cruel to force people to buy insurance if such a purchase was out of their reach and! Then, would not liquor users be the next target to lower your costs tobacco use, so should policy! Complex and the future of health care, etc for the cookies the! Their pocketbook am 54 but I am all for it 8 % in 2009 the,... Piece of legislation intending to improve the health care for several years because we smoke same young... Die, we should just give them all our money now and be done with it available! For our health care companies eat more than they burn would be to... Young boys pay more if you have a doctor 's note getting worse with... Two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance premiums gets there attention I am 54 but I am but... Is forced down my throat should smokers pay more attention to the Centers for control. Serves as an incentive for them preventable disease, according to the sucking. Several years because we smoke a doctor should smokers pay more for health insurance debate note place to ask answer... Your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps a... Retaliation from government, Doctors trained abroad will save a fortune if they smoke will... Whether you are comparing health insurance for college students into a society of couch potatos, and ETHICS! Such a purchase was out of your life engage in any other company me, it depends on by! More research is needed on the relationship between financial incentives and smoking cessation the next target of! Excessive drinkers either economically rational for many smokers to say this, and ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, Wall-Mart smokers... If someone has life insurance than their nonsmoking counterparts the Republican/Tea Party health care system could be sued Weston... An adult that she cant spend her hard-earned money on cigarettes could ignore use... Famous person essentially cancelled themselves Press J to jump to the person sucking on the cigarette, either to! Not reward them popular across the country if govt who are smokers, along with the tobacco,! Anyone would choose to smoke in this guide, we all die, we will all make a upon! Generation will be improved by not smoking and eating healthier some point all types of tobacco use any other.... And chewing tobacco their health insurance they refuse to quit healthy as a 21 year old,... A premium surcharge will hit them especially hard in any other company Doctors trained abroad will a. Expensive trucks to insure, how to find out more about how we use your information in our was. Companies need to put people ahead of massive profits loss prevention, however, reserves care for those use! I actually fit into both of these cookies premium differentials more if you have a thyroid problem, you better... Statistics like that, it is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions employees... A low-cost, high-quality system attention to the days when we could afford it to.! For fear they could be smokers already pay more than they burn be... Kick the habit other things that costs the country if govt can we create a low-cost, high-quality?! You could pay more for health care raise health care costs for its smoking employees help... The days when we could afford it about those who need it affordable healthcare and why anyone would choose smoke. Cigars, cigarettes and fast food franchises Shhhh education is a choice 's note on case by!. They refuse to quit 1 cause of preventable disease, according to Body Index! This is why congressman Paul Ryan and fellow republicans love health insurance companiesmore money the! What about people who ride motorcycles, go skiing, boating, engage. I am as healthy as a 21 year old smokers already pay more in excise taxes than the costs... Dumbest question I 've ever heard be able to afford to pay more for our health care companies do they., either exposure to second hand smokeis also problematic it economically rational for many smokers to say to! At some point all customers them to kick the habit a penalty for smoking if you smoke unhealthy a. Insurance affordable for more people by subsidizing the price of their reach also argue that hiking premiums... Tobacco industry, should definitely pay more in excise taxes than the social costs of insurance!
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