Obesity and Health Insurance: Alabama State Employees Must Pay For Coverage If Obese
Sunday Aug 31, 2008Obesity and Health Insurance: Alabama State Employees Must Pay For Coverage If Obese in Individual Health Insurance
Alabama is the first state in the U.S. to require state employees to pay for their medical insurance if they are obese.
The Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board will assess a charge of $25 per month if any of the 37,527 state workers have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or higher and doesn’t show weight-loss progress.
The plan was approved last week, reported the Los Angeles Times.
According the proposal, employees have until January of 2010 to get in shape.
Alabama already penalizes state workers for unhealthy habits — smokers must pay $24 per month for their health insurance. If they also are obese, their health insurance will go up to $49 a month.
“We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health,” said an Insurance Board member.
On the surface, the proposal makes sense. It’s widely accepted that being obese is a health risk — risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, and a myriad of other health problems. So why not penalize people for being unhealthy?
Well, the problem is every overweight and obese person is not necessarily unhealthy.
A recent study found that about half of overweight Americans (BMI of 25 to 30) have normal blood pressure and normal cholesterol levels. Of those who are obese, having a BMI more than 30, almost one-third have normal blood pressure and cholesterol counts, wrote the LA Times article.
“[The new plan is] terrible. Some people come into this world big,” pointed out an Alabama state employee.
It seems like an interesting debate to come.
Posted by Leo on August 29, 2008 at 08:46 AM CDT #
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Posted by Joann on September 06, 2008 at 01:17 AM CDT #
Everyone knows that the health insurance industry is continually raising monthly premiums, and many feel this is unjust to you as the consumer. However, the health insurance industry has had to fight increasing health insurance fraud. The amount of money spent on investigating and prosecuting fraud is then passed on to policyholders. Many people do not understand what health insurance fraud entails, though. With reports estimating health insurance fraud is a $30 billion to over $100 billion industry per year, the topic should not be taken lightly. Every health insurance policyholder should understand what health insurance fraud is and its consequences. By doing so, you are more able to recognize and fight fraud.
Posted by Health Insurance Guide on September 10, 2008 at 06:30 AM CDT #