Wellness Incentives Could Create Health-Care Loophole

[Crabtownboy]

What are your thoughts on this .... ?

Get in shape or pay a price.

That's a message more Americans could hear if health-care reform provisions passed by the Senate finance and health committees become law. By more than doubling the maximum penalties that companies can apply to employees who flunk medical evaluations, the legislation could put workers under intense financial pressure to lose weight, stop smoking or even lower their cholesterol.

The bipartisan initiative, largely eclipsed in the health-care debate, builds on a trend that is in play among some corporations and that more workers will see in the benefits packages they bring home during this fall's open enrollment. Some employers offer lower premiums to workers who complete personal health assessments; others limit coverage for smokers.

The current legislative effort would take the trend a step further. It is backed by major employer groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. It is opposed by labor unions and organizations devoted to combating serious illnesses, such as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association.

Critics say employers could use the rewards and penalties to drive some workers out of their health plans.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101503036.html?hpid=topnews

 

[Johnv]

If Obama decided to subsidize gym memberships, I guarantee you, the gyms wouldn't be much fuller than they are now. People are lazy. It does warrant the question "to what extent should the American public pay the price for a person's laziness, whihc later results in heart disease, obesity, etc".

 

[Johnathon E]

Though I believe programs like this are well intentioned, I fear the end result of such efforts. I am concerned that programs like this would lead to a two tier citizenship. One that follows the government ideal of what a person should be and thus gets all the benefits and rights of citizenship and one that fails to meet this ideal criteria and is restricted and ostracized. Once you have the government dictating what you can eat and the amount of exercise you must do each day then what is to stop them from dictating more?

 

[preachinjesus]

My healthcare provider already covers my gym membership. It works out for them. I haven't been sick in over 5 years.

I have an immune system slightly below Dwight Schrutes.

 

[rbell]

Here, you have the main issue with government healthcare.

It allows the government to dictate how you are to live your life. Since the "I pay for your care...so I have a right to tell you how to live" argument now comes into play, pandora's box has been opened.

I remember reading one time about a country called the United States. Supposedly, it had something to do with freedom. It would have been nice to have seen that place. :tear:

This also highlights the hypocrisy and stupidity of the legislation. On one hand, we're going to toss out pre-existing conditions (this is like wrecking your car, and then calling to get insurance on it to get it fixed).

On the other hand, we're going to establish pre-existing conditions by punishing unhealthy folks.

So...which one is it? It can't be both. Well, I take that back. When government is in charge, it can...

Ridiculous.

 

[Bob Alkire]

This also highlights the hypocrisy and stupidity of the legislation. On one hand, we're going to toss out pre-existing conditions (this is like wrecking your car, and then calling to get insurance on it to get it fixed).

On the other hand, we're going to establish pre-existing conditions by punishing unhealthy folks.

So...which one is it? It can't be both. Well, I take that back. When government is in charge, it can...

Ridiculous.

Now, this one hits home. I thank the Lord, that I've never been sick up to now and I am around 270 lbs and 6' 3". I have never used my health care insurance co. for being sick. I have used it one time when I cut my fingers almost off with a chain saw. That did cost them a good amount and that was 30 years ago and I get a check up once a year, which I pay my copay. So being heavy could cost me, but having other health problems I have to be taken care of, this does not sound right to me. But
the government know best or that is what this group is telling us.

I'll just love this!!!

 

[preachinjesus]

The difficulty is that when one removes the buearacratic costs any healthcare system is only really taxed by about 10% to 15% of its users. But that can go for all forms of insurance. That's why its called insurance.

For instance, the most money I ever took from my healthcare providers was when I was born those many years ago. Since then I've not had any significant medical conditions. But that can change. On the other hand a friend of mine has very bad cancer and is in their final stages of the fifth go around for treatment (and it isn't looking good.) We were talking and they were telling me about how much their bills would have been if it wasn't for an outstanding health insurance coverage. Something in the neighborhood of about $1 million for this latest go around.

That said while I don't think anyone will dictate to us about exercising and what and when to do it, I would say that it is obvious that a person who does engage in working out and living a healthier lifestyle does have a better chance at healthiness than someone who does not.

 

[Bob Alkire]

That said while I don't think anyone will dictate to us about exercising and what and when to do it, I would say that it is obvious that a person who does engage in working out and living a healthier lifestyle does have a better chance at healthiness than someone who does not.

I'm sure you are correct, but in my family it isn't. My brother has never been over 175 or 180 pounds in his life. He ate correctly, worked out, loved to run and go on long walks and so on. I haven't ate as some say I should and after I quite playing ball at around 28 years old, I stopped working out and running. God has blessed me, I've never been sick up till now, while my brother has had a few heart attacks, by pass surgery and a stroke or two. Never can tell!

I drive a truck and I see many a truck driver in their 60's and 70's smoking and eating Little Debbies or candy to stay awake, now not working out after a 11 to 14 hour day and many are over 300 pounds. Is this good, I would say not, but most of these I see every day or week over the past 15 years or so and I don't recall but two of them missing work for health reasons. One broke his leg and another had a mild heart attack(what is a mild one, I don't know).

I have no answer for this and I know it goes against good reasoning, but it is true.