Posted on 10/11/2007 2:35:03 AM PDT by tlb
Starting next year, employees of my company will have to pay a $100 per month fee (that’s $1,200 per year) if they smoke. Or if anyone in their family who gets health insurance from the company smokes.
I got the letter yesterday from Tribune Company (corporate parent of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel) outlining the changes to our 2008 health plans:
“Tobacco use fee – Tribune employees who use tobacco products (or have covered dependents who do so), will pay a $100 per month fee (per family) in addition to their medical premium. Smoking cessation programs will be offered to assist those who use tobacco in leading a smoke-free lifestyle. The fee will be waived upon completion of the program.”
Naturally, this makes me wonder what other unhealthy sins will be surcharged in coming years.
The other thing that gets me is that there’s no reward for not being a smoker.
Instead, everyone’s premiums, deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket maximums are going up next year. In my case, my annual out-of-pocket maximum for each family member is going from $1,250 per person to $2,000 per person. And that’s not even including prescription drugs. And that’s in addition to my $4,000 share of the annual premium that I’m paying.
Yikes. I’ve seen the future, and it’s damn expensive.
(Excerpt) Read more at weblogs.sun-sentinel.com ...
will they do the same for overweight employees too?
I am a non smoker but I oppose smoking bans in general, but in bars in particulars. That said, smoking is a stupid and unhealthy habit and it’s not wrong to charge more for those who will likely cost more to insure.
Now, with that said, I think that homosexual males should be required substantially more. Those who participate in high risk recreational activities should also pay more.
If they are going to charge for ‘risk’, all risks should be so charged.
What if you smoke only 2 times a year? Are you going to be compelled to pay up?
What if it's 20 cigarettes a year
What if it's one cigarette and they enforce it?
Would second hand smoke count? What if you live with a smoker? What if you went out to a club and walked by someone who smoked? Will they enforce this with blood tests (might actually be viable)?
Just curious...
NOW...Let's talk about other unhealthy lifestyles. This is South Florida. Has anyone used a public restroom in Fort Lauderdale recently? For it's intended purpose?
How much does AIDs cost the average health insurance holder? Why should we cover that sort of risky lifestyle?
I think if you have anonymous homosexual sex, you are increasing your exposure and risk to contract HIV. Can we charge an extra $100 a month for that? I mean, I didn't make them do that... Why should I pay to subsidize it?
The principle will be extended to any group which is believed to be politically weak, socially estranged and vulnerable, and without viable alternative choices.
Never be the the last guy in the pecking order, if you can help it.
A program to return the insured to a "healthy" weight will be next. Your weight will be recorded and your premium will be surcharged according to the percentage out of range you are.
That’s good.
Hash marked health coverage. Reminds me of my telephone bill.
They wouldn’t dare charge more for homosexuals due to the higher risk of AIDS, would they?
Surcharge for this, surcharge for that.. It’s the rage. It’s where we’re headed.
this would resolve many issues including the ages-old discriminatory practice of providing more health-care benefits to people with families than to single employees.
I know a fellow who like to play basketball.
He has ripped a hamstring twice now. Should people who play sports be charged more?
What if little Bobby or Suzie are on the school sports squad?
This entire plan is BS. Everyone participates in some degree of risky behavior just by being alive.
A couple of billion folks are about to head out on to the highway in the dark to rush to work or school. I’m sure everyone will arrive in one piece /sarc
What about fat people? It seems that this company (some might call it a fascist organization) will implement next a Body Mass Index metric - anyone over a 25 BMI has to pay a $100/month per excess point surcharge. I suspect that this charge will not stand up to legal challenge but the way the liberal courts are these days, who knows.
“They wouldn’t dare charge more for homosexuals due to the higher risk of AIDS, would they?”
Don’t ya know that AIDS isn’t a homosexual disease. UNLESS its about giving them money. Trying to take money from them is cause for a public lynching.
Why not? Insurance prices are a measure of risk, and a smoker is more of a health risk than a non-smoker. After all, I pay a lot higher premium for the life insurance my company offers than someone 20 years younger.
Blue Cross Blue Shield charges more for smokers in my zip code. Full coverage for a smoker is about $60 more a month.
What about extreme sports enthusiasts? Or folks who ride bikes in traffic? Or even riskier stuff?
I can see the justification, but it ought to be fairly applied. Also, how do the companies find out which employees are risky?
dont like it....work somewhere else
as if I chose to get diabetes ?
Agreed. I have no problem with charging premiums for smokers, as long as they are allowed to charge premiums for other risk takers (motorcyclists not wearing helmets, overweight, drivers distracted by cell phone use, etc...)
Don't you dare try to bring sound reasoning into this emotional argument.
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