Can health care providers really tell you to quit smoking or be charged more for your health benefits?I am on my husband's health care coverage through his work. He has brought home a notice stating that employees and their covered dependents MUST quit smoking by July or pay 25% more than non-smokers. What's next? If you are a certain weight you will pay more also? How can they do this and get away with it in America. The weight issue will be next. Why does this government let companies get away with this discrimination by saying smokers cost them more when I know over weight people who do not smoke and have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart problems.
ADDITION: What confuses me is that they legalized "pot" in some states for midicinal purposes. Go figure.
Dicey times are here.
Under Obamacare, since it would be like the British NHS, if you smoke, they can refuse to treat you for smoking related cancers. It has already happened over there, stop whining and research, then stop smoking.
GoGo Girls
Yes they can do this. Smokers have far more health issues and use up quite a few health care dollars. Why should I pay more for health insurance when I don't smoke (I quite 9 years ago), eat right, and work out because of other peoples bad habits?
Jonny B
I used to smoke (rarely I still may have one). I do however think that smokers should pay more for health benefits as well as obese people. If you are caught speeding, reckless driving, or just being a bad driver your car insurance rates go up. If you abuse your body health rates should go up as well.
shawn
although it is clearly discrimination! yes they can! i even had to pay more for my health insurance at work before because i chewed snuff! and that was back before obama was president! and yes if you were over weight they charged more too, but i wasn't. i guess they are like hitler? pretty soon every one will have to have blonde hair and be 6 ft tall, or you won't be able to get a job or medical insurance at all! :oP
W.T.
smoking is an option that you chose and if the insurance company feels it's in their best interest to get you to quit this is a way to try and get you to do it, as for people with weight issues there are many underlying reasons why people are overweight and it's not just food so it's not like they can just stop being heavy
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