By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    Improved Digestion
    Five tips to boost digestion and metabolism
    November 4, 2022
    health insurance for young adults
    Benefits of Buying Health Insurance for Your Adults
    January 12, 2023
    broken hip recovery
    4 Ways to Recover from a Broken Hip
    March 14, 2023
    Latest News
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
    Chewing Matters More Than You Think: Why Proper Chewing Supports Better Health
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Personalized Prevention, Part I
    February 23, 2012
    Everything We Are Doing in Health Policy May Be Completely Wrong
    July 26, 2011
    Personalized Prevention, Part II – The Psychology of Engagement
    March 15, 2012
    Latest News
    Streamlining Healthcare Operations: How Our Consultants Drive Efficiency and Overall Improvement
    June 11, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Higher Premiums for Unhealthy Lifestyles – Fair?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Higher Premiums for Unhealthy Lifestyles – Fair?
Policy & Law

Higher Premiums for Unhealthy Lifestyles – Fair?

Liz Seegert
Last updated: January 29, 2013 9:54 am
Liz Seegert
Share
3 Min Read
No smoking sign
SHARE

Should people with bad health habits pay more for insurance?

A new report by ehealth.com, the nation’s largest private online health insurance exchange, says that many already do. Their just-relaxed Smoking Status and Body Mass Index Relative to Individual Health Insurance Premiums” found that obese people are charged average of 22 percent more in health premiums, and smokers pay 14 percent more.

Should people with bad health habits pay more for insurance?

A new report by ehealth.com, the nation’s largest private online health insurance exchange, says that many already do. Their just-relaxed Smoking Status and Body Mass Index Relative to Individual Health Insurance Premiums” found that obese people are charged average of 22 percent more in health premiums, and smokers pay 14 percent more.

More Read

mitigating-risk-II-e1383041558507
Eliminating Risk with Independent Review Organizations & External Reviews
ePatients: What’s the Big Deal?
What If a Whole Country Goes on a Diet?
FDA Offers Guidance on Social Media Etiquette for Medical Device Manufacturers
What are QIOs?

It’s not surprising, given that the obesity epidemic and smoking-related illnesses cost the health system more. Obesity impacts many chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease; smokers are more likely to develop cancer and die prematurely.

No smoking signFemale smokers are hit harder, with an average 22 percent difference compared with female non-smokers. These stats also show that normal weight and overweight women pay higher premiums than their male counterparts, although obese men pay about seven percent more in premiums than do obese women. Yes, unfortunately gender bias is allowed under current regulations.

In a press statement, eHealth CEO Gary Lauer said “for the second year in a row now, we’ve been able to put a dollar figure on what smoking and an unhealthy BMI may cost Americans in terms of higher health insurance premiums in the individual market. A sample of 224,000 ehealthinsurance major medical policy holders were used to derive the obesity figures; 275,000 ehealthinsurance medical policies were used for the smoker’s statistics.

As Lauer noted, individuals purchasing their own insurance are hardest hit  by these cost differences. That will change next year, when new Affordable Care Act provisions kick in – prohibiting higher gender-based premiums. And those with pre-existing conditions who are without insurance for the previous six months can buy into a special plan that doesn’t charge more because of health status.

Smokers, however will still pay a higher price – in some cases, nearly double that of non-smokers. Some analysts say higher premiums might make insurance unaffordable, particularly for older smokers. However, “smoker’s penalty” may be avoidable – if smokers join cessation programs.

Is it fair to only penalize smokers?

What about others that lead lifestyles which negatively impact health? Should this one group be singled out? Some might argue discrimination based on lifestyle choice. Others say smoking is a choice that affects those around them, while other bad habits only impact the person doing them.

What do you think?

 

TAGGED:health insurance costs
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Streamlining Healthcare Operations: How Our Consultants Drive Efficiency and Overall Improvement
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
June 11, 2025
magnesium supplements
The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
Health
June 11, 2025
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: How Technology is Changing the Game
Technology
June 6, 2025
migraine home remedies and-devices
The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
Health Mental Health
June 5, 2025

You Might also Like

Key ACA Provision Regarding Medicare Spending Oversight Finds Many Foes

April 25, 2011
dentist woman wearing white gloves and white scrubsuit checking boy s teeth
Medical EducationWellness

Are All Dental Crowns The Same?

April 8, 2013

Health Care Reform to be Top of Mind in 2012

December 21, 2011
gluten-free labeling
Health Reform

More on the Meaning of “Universal Coverage”

March 22, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?