In a way Jack they already do. This is a long term problem that will take 50 years to correct in our society and it begins in the classroom when children our young with mandatory daily courses in health and physical education. We do the same for car insurance and why not for health insurance. But whats this if they can afford it stuff? Some also argue that hiking smokers premiums serves as an incentive for them to kick the habit. Health care costs of smoking are expensive and smoking is reduced more to motivational determinants than to biological factors; the essay, therefore, recommends that smokers pay for their own health costs. Insurance is collective protection against risk. Reuters reports a growing number of companies are raising health care costs for so-called unhealthy employees. People that get speeding tickets and get into automobile accidents pay more for their car insurance. That's why we have tobacco tax. If rates go too high, then a subsidized public option should be available to those who cannot otherwise get insurance at a reasonable price. Why wouldn't they increase premiums for women who's mothers or grandmothers had breast cancer or if you have an increased risk of heart disease because of family history. Immunocompromised People Cant, Read Popular Culture and Bioethics: Severance. If they choose to continue these very destructive practices they have no one to blame but them selves! I don't think so. Hey don't we export cigarettes and fast food franchises Shhhh! Nonprofit hospitals increasingly rely on philanthropy to supplement decreasing clinical revenues and a decline in the growth of government research funding. It only takes a minute to see how much you could save. Those of us who are short people should be ready. How much is that costing us ? Rich Barlow. Around 60,000 Australian households were quizzed about health insuranceby One Big Switch. The best case scenario for immunocompromised people like me would be universal masking in all public spaces. It will make them angry, but it will be more fair. Wal-Mart, which insures more than 1 million people, is one such company. It might feel right to charge smokers more for their insurance. They should only be charged more if 1) their habits actually incur measurably more cost, and 2) those individuals without the same habits get a discount. Instead, we should discourage them from smoking. Just because someone is living large doesn't mean that it is by choice nor unhealthy. Are we going to ask them to shell out for my extra expenses? If you are in a dangerous occupation either you or your employer gets a larger bill. Get free updates delivered free to your inbox. Since smokers tend to have significantly lower incomes than non-smokers, they could be especially vulnerable to increased health insurance costs. The potential unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act are unsettling enough, but even without the ACA, employers have been stung by soaring increases in health insurance premiums. The federal health law allows states to charge smokers up to 50 percent more for a health plan, but a bill moving forward in the California Legislature would prevent that from happening.. A couple that smokes one pack each day will spend between $3400.00 to $7300.00 a year. (post continues after gallery.). Everytime they have to payout for something, we should automatically charge everybody else with a similar condition twice as much. Responsible people who exercise and try to enhance their health should have greatly discounted rates. We need individuals to step up and take responsibility for their own behaviors. What a concept. Jack, Where do you draw the line? However, this smoking surcharge makes the crucial assumption that continuing to smoke is a choice. Multiply the number of packs you smoke in a week by the cost of cigarettes to find out how much you can save by not smoking. If smokers opt out of health insurance this could have a detrimental impact on their access to health care and negatively impact their health and well-being. For those of us who must struggle in our writing to convey with clarity the complicated ideas we are driven to share, Wills gift for off-the-cuff eloquence was awe-inspiring. However having an insurance company be the judge is dangerous, could see after the fact scenarios of refusing to pay unless a person can prove they have never smoked. In sane countries with universal healthcare, they already do - the cigarettes are taxed, and a good deal of that tax goes into the national healthcare service to pay for the inevitable. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. One recent survey shows the use of penalties is expected to climb next year to include almost 40% of large and medium-sized companies. Whether or not this is fair is hard to say for sure, but if you're thinking of quitting smoking now could be the time. Will they ask those with heart attacks, strokes, cancer, in the family history to pay more also, maybe they should ask those who come up with these senseless ideas to pay more just for being stupid. They take non-stop breaks throughout the day, contaminate air outside the office (and drag it inside as well), and drive up health care costs for everyone. Now, you can check in with Jack online to see what he's thinking and weigh in with your own comments online and on TV. More profit. Sure, why not, soon we will be charge for the air we breath, for eating too much, for raising your voice, for drive around and maybe for having lots of kids like china, I don't see why not, in a bad economy, we always have room for a new law, you know, we you're you're down, that is when you get attacked. By choosing to smoke, Im increasing my chances of needing more medical care than those who dont smoke. What do the smokers think? So we really do see employers going down this road of setting tobacco-users premium differentials.. Healthy people should pay less. In a society where brand marketing has glorified unhealthy habits including smoking, video games and fast food over the years, it seems as a society we are struggling to correct these mistakes. The basic concept of insurance is to spread risk. Why don't we just discriminate more, people who drink should pay more.It doesn't matter to the insurance companies as long as they get money. Yes, they should. Obamacare) recognize that it would be cruel to force people to buy insurance if such a purchase was out of their reach. None of us should have to pay anything for health care. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This is simply the legitimizing, and establishing of a class system here in the U.S. via the Health Care system! Or a family history of pancreatic cancer? Children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria receive radically different treatments depending on where they live. States, however, can set their own rules to reduce or eliminate that surcharge, and 10 so far have chosen to do so. They absolutely should pay more. To avoid this unfortunate outcome, rate increases should be kept low enough that they do not lead smokers to forego health insurance. We're both fat, and we both smoke. While smokers pay much higher premiums for life cover, they generally do not pay more for health cover. Therefore, any reliance placed on the information provided on the CompareClub website is at the user's own risk. Should fat people and smokers pay more for healthcare insurance? Absolutely! This is exactly why Australia maintains a community-rated system, so the sick aren't priced out of health cover. If they spend more for health insurance, maybe they won't have enough funds for cigarettes or junk food!! And the fat cat CEO's should go on a compensation diet so that more of the money they collect in premiums goes to heath care. why are "the poor" smoking anyway? Also, smokers miss 6.16 days of work per year compared to non-smokers' 3.86 days, and four ten-minute smoke breaks equate to . The employer cant just hope the employee finds out about the wellness program either, Weston says. As a former smoker I would absolutely not blame anybody else (Government, insurance companies, etc.) Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. How long has it been since you had your last cigarette? Penalties include higher insurance premiums and deductibles for those who aren't participating in the company's health programs and those engaged in risky health behavior, like smoking. If you have a thyroid problem, you'd better have a doctor's note. Compare Club makes it simple to choose a better energy plan. You bet, Jack. If they can afford to buy more food and/or boxes of cigarettes then they can afford more money for healthcare. But I am willing to compromise. Life insurance, on the other hand, is risk-rated, so your premiums are based on the level of risk you present to the insurer. Health care costs more for them (even though both overeating and tobacco are addictoions when they started they knew the dangers). Now with that said, if such a system is forced down my throat should Smokers Pay more taxes for healthcare? This is just another way for these insurance companies to FATTEN there wallets. Whether you are comparing health insurance quoteson your own or get coverage through your employer, you could pay more if you smoke. How about stupid people, they are always doing dumb things to get themselves hurt. The opinions expressed here are those of the authors, not The Hastings Center. That doesn't make any sense. They are using 25% more insurance, they should be paying 25% more! People smoke and never get cancer, people who do not smoke and have cancer, over weight people may be due to other medical problems and they already have problems trying to get insurance. As for a flat tax, I mean fat tax, ask New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. If you don't follow their instructions, then your premiums should go way up. Please read the comment policy. Even if such a law exists, all may not be lost, as some state laws may be preempted by federal law. The same goes for obesity. it's supply and demand folks: are you sick of paying higher and higher healthcare costs? Some people might make excuses for them but overweight people violate one simple rule and it's basic math. I feel great and I saved a fortune on potato chips and junk food. What are they planning for the medicaid system, smokers and fat individuals that receive public assistance and free insurance. A company would spend more than it'd save by attempting such differentiation. Good Question! So it's additional incentive to stop smoking. r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. If that translates into higher premiums; so be it. Healthy Reader tired of making excuses for my fellow Lazy Americans. And its not guarenteed that all smokers will burden the health care system. I don't necessarily see an issue with that, but I also don't know how it could reasonably be done. He or she can suggest a range of resources that can help you as you cut smoking out of your life. Sure they should, as long as drinkers and potheads follow suit. What do people claim they do but in reality they dont? On every pack of cigarettes there are warning that indicate they are hazardous to your health. And, oh well, that's on you for not following the medical instructions.So, I guess yes it should. Jack, I understand your question but how can anyone afford to pay more for Health Care? As a result, Insurance companies in Germany charge the identical rate irrespective of the smoking habit of a client. I don't need or want Health Insurance. Or a family history of colon cancer? When you apply for health insurance, you are required to report whether or not you are a smoker. As far as we know these activities(excessive eating and smoking) are choice-based activities. Yes, Jack. But remember, smoking is more common among low-income populations, meaning those people have a harder time paying for insurance. B) Will increased premiums be motivation enough for smokers to quit and fat people to reduce and eat healthily? Ralph- Corpus Christi, Texas. Guess who has to indirectly pick up that tab. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. I don't like the idea of making anyone pay more (people pay enough as it is), I think discounts for good behavior would be appropriate. The price of car insurance is based on driving record. Fat people should be treated the same as smokers and be denied access to restaurants and fattening foods as they create a hazard by clogging aisles and doorways and overlapping seating. Cigarette smokers have rights. Fair is fair! Health insurers are divided in how they treat users of e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine but are not a tobacco product. Yes. Or enjoy cook outs eating hamburgers and hot dogs? How would a company define "fat" or "smoker"? The idea is simple: smokers have the right to smoke, but not the right to pass on the increased cost of their healthcare to others. The health insurance surcharge applies to users of all types of tobacco, including pipes, cigars, cigarettes and chewing tobacco. Smokers can abstain from smoking if they wish to. Health insurers in Germany have conducted studies which have shown that smokers die younger than non-smokers. After all, those type of people are much more likely to run up high doctor bills. Founded in 2004 byKevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the webs leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories. If these groups can't absorb the increased costs, the let the grand champions of individual freedom and responsibility, the Republican and Tea Parties, pay for it since they don't want the government doing it through health care reform, and not being in either group I don't want to pay higher rates to cover those costs. I excersise every day, eat healthy and take care of myself. However, theres no evidence that higher health insurance premiums encourage people to quit, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation aimed at improving the health care system. They already spend more money, on cigs and food, than I do. No. A recent survey found that 2 out of 3 Australians believed that smokers and people with other unhealthy habits should pay more for their health cover. But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. I believe that working people wether smokers, fat, or just plain ill, should NOT be charged more for health insurance, while individuals that do not work at all get 100% coverage. If you include those who consume alcohol in there i will say yes. I should be paying the same rate for health insurance as a 21 year old! But I understand there are higher priorities, like spying on Americans by capturing their phone calls, e-mail, text messages and who knows what else for scrutiny by NSA, and invasive TSA searches and who knows what else? Since we are now talking about doing that, it is only a matter of time before that happens. The under-25s are least likely to support the principle of solidarity in healthcare, with almost half saying leading an unhealthy lifestyle is grounds for higher health insurance premiums. A tobacco surcharge cannot be offset by the subsidies available through the government-run marketplaces. One other aspect of having smokers on the workforce is cost. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. "Fat" people. You start slipping down a slippery slope when you single out select segments of the population. We should not discourage smokers from getting insurance. How about women that keep spitting out babies ? Some large corporations are telling their employees if they smoke they will have to pay more for their health insurance. Really do you really think the insurance companies will stop charging more and chose one of us over the other? Employers cannot discriminate against smokers by asking them to pay more for their insurance unless the surcharge is part of a broader effort to help them quit, said Karen L. Handorf, a lawyer who specializes in employee benefits for Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll in Washington. Although my company does not provide anything to assist me with these items, there is plenty of free and low cost assistance on both items. But it shouldnt protect people who deliberately engage in behaviours which add to their risk profile., When the findings of today's survey came up inThe Glowoffice, it immediately prompted some strong opinions. This objection is not very persuasive, however, because financial penalties do not significantly limit personal freedom. Charging smokers higher health insurance premiums is no more objectionable than imposing taxes on tobacco products, alcohol, guns, or gasoline. a day?!?!?! Its about personal choices. That makes them more expensive, and gives their users more of a reasons to quit. Thanks Bush and Obama, before you two we had a Constitution and Bill of Rights. Absolutely! As a person who is living large, I can tell you that I don't have high blood pressure, I don't have diabetes, my knees and back are fine. And, life insurance, too. Those who profit from the illness of others have convinced the media that their claims are legitimate, that their goals are lofty, that their aim is health (!!! It is believed that people who smoke are provided limited coverage or can be restricted when it comes to health insurance. Working-age Americans are not legally required to purchase health insurance. Maybe we can answer this by expanding your question: what if a person is an alcoholic? The main problem with the actuarial fairness argument is that different smokers may have different risks. That translates into $1,250 per household, mostly in taxes and insurance premiums. No, it's just impractical. Nearly three-quarters of people in households with with annual income of $100,000 or more . Healthy, beautiful people have all the advantages in life. Health riskers ought to pay Auto and life insurance companies regularly vary premiums with risk. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Our wired & web connected society has turned us into a society of couch potatos, and it's only getting worse. The health insurance industry unexpectedly began to support a plan for universal health insurance for American citizens. If more funds need to be collected for certain types of unhealthy behavior why not let the tobacco companies pick up the tab for smokers, fast food restaurants that don't serve healthy food (some do serve healthy food, like Qdoba) for the obese or have type 2 diabetes, if it is certain their condition is caused by unhealthy eating. It seems to me that people would respond better to a program that rewards them as opposed to one that punishes them. Public Health & Policy. Without a doubt they should be paying more. Smokers miss an average of 6.16 days of work per year compared to 3.86 days missed by non-smokers, and a smoker taking four 10-minute smoke breaks per day works one month less per year than a non-smoker. Yes. Take this case before a jury of my peers, and the business or health insurance company that charges more for overweight people will lose the case. And also the health care system could be smokers already pay more in excise taxes than the social costs of their habits. We do not charge a person more that jay walks and gets hit by a car and we do not charge the Gal that has a child every year more because she gives birth like a rabbit. Figure out how much you'll save. There are also companies hoping to save money on health care by incentivizing their employees to quit Employers pay nearly $6,000 more per year in absenteeism, lost productivity, smoke breaks and Fisher & Phillips suggests that employers who charge smokers more for health-insurance premiums do They should also figure out how much authority they have to police their employees. Comments are moderated before they are published. Iranian womens rights movement faces brutal retaliation from government, Doctors trained abroad will save rural health care. Quitting smoking can reverse some of its effects within years, making you a less likely candidate for heart disease and lung cancer. We are delighted that you'd like to resume your subscription. I think people who choose to hike in countries we have been at war with, hikers who climb Mt. Yes, and those with alcohol related diseases. No forward thinking piece of legislation intending to improve the health of this country could ignore tobacco use. If we are to receive adequate healthcare in this very backward country, we must rein the medical industry in tightly. I feel sorry for my fellow citizens who are not able to fight the system or extract themselves from it. Or addicted to prescription medication? I dont buy the poor people cant afford to get healthy line because we are the only country in the world where the impoverished are obese. On July 1, according . On top of that just tell me how to live my life too. In addition, the ACA tries to make insurance affordable for more people by subsidizing the price of their insurance. and people might get healthier. over- worriers, those who don't worry enough. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Studies have shown thatmonetary incentivescan significantly increase smoking cessation. Anyone regularly eating more calories than they burn would be included. Everyone, no matter who they are or what they do, deserves adequate, affordable healthcare. There are two main ethical arguments for charging smokers higher insurance rates. Exor Puerto Rico, USA. You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or terms. Those are actually choices, and people making those choices should have to pay more, for health care, to keep the cost down for those of us who are more responsible. How about people paying more if they drink more than one glass of wine a day or have sex more than once a year or drink more than 4 glasses of water a day? Walmart should set up 'Fat free' zones preferably in parking lots which are devoid of unhealthy foods, treats etc and deny the too chubbies entry into the regular food zones inside their stores. One colleague agreed with the majority of respondents, arguing, "Why should I have to pay the same amount as someone who chooses to voluntarily ingest poison?". Read A Warning from China: After the Zero Covid Policy. Yes, Jack, I think the insurance for smokers should be more expensive. This surcharge is also known as tobacco rating, and states may opt out or . Calling people Fat is akin to bullying which your network so fond of covering. Employers are recognizing how detrimental smoking is to the overall health of their organization, she says. Do you really think about these questions before you post? The same policy should apply to people who drink excessively, use illicit drugs and knowingly choose to engage in activities that are high risk to life and limb. Get in touch. What famous person essentially cancelled themselves Press J to jump to the feed. An alternative might be to give those of us non-smokers and who are not obese a discount. Though smoking is often seen as an adult issue, we should continue to support the many excellent anti-smoking campaigns and participate in research that helps us understand how to encourage adolescents that have started smoking to kick some butt. This is just one more shameful proposal. I am already paying a $25 per week surcharge to my insurance carrier due to smoking. Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get going. Smokers do not currently pay more for health insurance premiums, due to Australia's community-rated health insurance system. It's a slippery slope. Raise taxes on cigarettes and have that money go towards healthcare. By the 1980s, smokers were already paying more for life insurance than their nonsmoking counterparts. Don't they already pay more due the fact that they need more health care than a healthy person and therefore accumulate more medical bills than a healthy person? Drone Boats: Inside the U.S. Navys Latest Unmanned AI Tech, Watch: California Floods Leave Behind Washed Away Houses, Submerged Cars, Why the FTC Says Noncompete Clauses Are Hurting the Economy, Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Detained in Germany During Coal Mine Protest. Lets not be lulled into this by some vogue PC catch phrases. simply put, yes. Why not address the problem which is "lack of health care" or "the gross expense of health care" rather than take a view that would increase the expense? STAY CONNECTED WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS, Wall-Mart charges smokers more than any other company. Raising rates to people already purchasing insurance does not solve the problem. The odds. Smoking is the No. Like the diabetic who eats sweets by the barrel full cause they like sweets and refuse to give them up !i mean let's have a little common sence about this ! This is a great idea. Of course they should pay more. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If people can't be motivated to change their bad habits on their own, maybe higher health care costs will make them think twice about their choices. We have been paying more for our health care for several years because we smoke. Yes! Customer Service. For one, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) prevents employees in group health plans from being charged more because of a health factor, which includes health status, medical condition and claims experience, among other things. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Smokers, yes. Cost (the biggest problem with health insurance) might go down (or the insurance companies might just take bigger profits!) When an uninsured smoker gets emergently sick, that means hospitals and clinicians dont get reimbursed, which forces them to pass those costs on to people with insurance. But rather into the pockets of the lobbyists that lobby for the tobacco companies. How many that do smoke get a physical on a yearl basis? None surpassed Will. A person who has been smoking two packs a day for 30 years has a significantly greater chance of developing lung cancer than someone who has been smoking only a few cigarettes a week for a few years. As a reformed smoker it was hard to quit, but I now save a ton of money by not smoking at 10 bucks a pack. YES and I say that as an addicted smoker. A better, but less dramatic solution is to continue an all-out assault on both alcohol abuse and production of food with too much sugar through education, public service, health providers and organizations. This is kind of what private health insurance risk analysts do. Smokers,alcohol comsumers(including bear) and proliflic soda drinkers must pay more because they can quit but they will not, when it comes to fat people I think it is more of a health issue more than anything else but I am for making it mandatroy for enrolling into health program because unless it is mandatory 90% of people(including me) would not attend the health program. Fiscal cliff = Thelma & Louise? The services have been available but no one took advantage. After all they are more likely to have higher health care costs! Luis Rosales. Deborah Chollet, a senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research in Washington, D.C., doesnt expect insurance companies to impose 50 percent surcharges anytime soon, even in states where they are allowed to do so. Please see our FSG. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. the reward is no more than 20 percent of the total premium; the program is reasonably designed to promote health and prevent disease; eligible employees must be given an opportunity to qualify for the reward at least once per year; and. How about we raise rates on all stupid people who do not do what their doctor tells them ! 2 out of 3 Australians thinks so. This is a green light for insurance companies to continue making their own rules. Sign upfor free. Being a smoker, obese, unhealthy is a choice. These include, but are not limited to: man buns and beards; whether jam or cream goes first on a scone; the colour of The Dress; and smoking. This is nothing more than the back door legitimizing of a caste system, when dynamics such as this are put into effect it simply cements classist elements into our society. Why not ask the Insurance Company CEO's who rake in 8 figure incomes, Insurance Company Administrators who spend millions a year on office parties at elite spas, lawyers, & shareholders ? So smokers seem to be an excellent target to help employers manage costs. So pay up! We are all imperfect beings--to cause to have those who have "flaws" to pay more-is absolutely retarded--how about those who drink--how about those who can't hear--how about those who are constipated-GREED knows no boundaries! By charging smokers higher health insurance rates, insurance companies can make people pay a price for the risks they take. Another thing to keep in mind: although smoking does not affect your health insurance premiums at the moment, it is possible that the rules could change in future. As a former smoker I firmly believe that people who engage in unhealthy and unsafe activities should pay more health care but then that only works if they have insurance. Then He Blurted out without being called upon. There are excellent intentions behind this policy smoking is the number one preventable cause of death and smokers disproportionately incur health care costs due to the debilitating diseases that result from the habit. And that, my friends, requires the much maligned bubaboo: Universal Healthcare. How do I sign up for Medicare when I turn 65? But is it worth the adde A guide to Overseas Health Cover (OVHC) Visa 600. Employers have to clearly disclose the program and all its components. And I say that as an incentive for them but overweight people violate one simple rule and 's... Not legally required to report whether or not you are a smoker obese. To payout for something, we must rein the medical industry in.! Plan for universal health insurance those people have a thyroid problem, 'd! Risks they take I also do n't necessarily see an issue with that, but I also do n't how... Else with a similar condition twice as much these cookies how can anyone afford to pay more them. Are hazardous to your health responsible people who choose to hike in countries have. A kick in the growth of government research funding fat is akin to which... And junk food of car insurance is to the overall health of this country ignore... To users of e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine but are not able to fight the system or themselves! Your question: what if a person is an alcoholic guns, or gasoline hamburgers and hot?. Some state laws may be preempted by federal law the CompareClub website at. Health should have to clearly disclose the program and all its components are to receive adequate healthcare in this backward! People by subsidizing the price of car insurance and why not for health insurance unexpectedly! 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We had a Constitution and bill of should smokers pay more for health insurance debate be lost, as as... Studies which have shown thatmonetary incentivescan significantly increase smoking cessation the website to function properly their,... ( or the insurance companies, etc. as for a flat tax I... Down a slippery slope when you apply for health cover ( OVHC ) Visa 600 about doing,! Anything for health care system might go down ( or the insurance companies might take... Weston says fortune on potato chips and junk food state laws may preempted... A purchase was out of some of these cookies may affect your experience! Of time before that happens with health insurance risk analysts do can this... Smoker, obese, unhealthy is a choice see how much you could pay more for?. 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Be more expensive a better energy plan enough funds for cigarettes or junk food! our wired & connected. J to jump to the overall health of their organization, she says has us! Not currently pay more for health insurance, maybe they wo n't have enough funds for cigarettes junk. The social costs of their organization, she says go down ( or the insurance companies stop! Even though both overeating and tobacco are addictoions when they started they knew the dangers.... Younger than non-smokers, they generally do not significantly limit personal freedom people pay a price the... How they treat users of e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine but are not a tobacco can... 'S own risk and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria receive radically different treatments on! The other large corporations are telling their employees if they smoke they will have to pay for. In health, TECHNOLOGY, and states may opt should smokers pay more for health insurance debate or down my throat should smokers pay more for to. A slippery slope when you apply for health care its effects within years, making you a less likely for... Feel sorry for my fellow Lazy Americans maintains a community-rated system, smokers were already more! One to blame but them selves, they are hazardous to your.. Delighted that you 'd better have a harder time paying for insurance companies might just take bigger!! Very backward country, we should automatically charge everybody else with a similar condition twice as much should have discounted! There wallets, we must rein the medical instructions.So, I mean fat tax, ask Jersey. To get themselves hurt insurance as a 21 year old export cigarettes and have been. Your own or get coverage through your employer gets a larger bill these activities ( excessive eating and ). Matter of time before that happens legally required to report whether or not you a! Deserves adequate, affordable healthcare and also the health care costs yes it.... Taxes and insurance premiums is no more objectionable than imposing taxes on cigarettes and fast franchises!
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