The Cost of Obesity

Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Children/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Quick Tips, Seniors/fit, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments

It is estimated that US health care costs will approach 1 trillion dollars per year within the next 20 years and that the current generation may well be the first since records have been kept to actually have a shorter lifespan than their parents. Those 2 estimates pretty well show the depth of the problems we are facing. Since these things always translate into money in some form or fashion, it shouldn’t surprise you that the health insurance companies are trying to figure out a way to curb costs. While it is no doubt going to be seen as politically incorrect, the answer is probably going to be higher insurance premiums for people who are overweight- just as people who smoke pay higher rates. For years the hazards of being overweight have been overlooked, but as the percentage of adults who are overweight or obese approaches 70%, it is not a problem that can be overlooked any longer. It is just too costly on so many levels. So here is a glimmer of hope- Alabama will start charging obese state employees 25.00 extra per month as an incentive to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. I honestly don’t think it will make much difference, but it is a start.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama, pushed to second in national obesity rankings by deep-fried Southern favorites, is cracking down on state workers who are too fat.

The state has given its 37,527 employees a year to start getting fit — or they’ll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.

Alabama will be the first state to charge overweight state workers who don’t work on slimming down, while a handful of other states reward employees who adopt healthy behaviors.

This is only fair to the people who do live a healthier lifestyle but pay for those who don’t with their taxes and/or premiums. I genuinely wish my health insurance company would do the same. In fact, since the cost of obesity is probably already factored into the premiums, it might be easier to discount the policies of people with healthy weight and lifestyles. But in terms of incentive, it is probably better to raise rates for those who don’t – similar to what auto insurance companies do for those with bad driving records.

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The State Employees’ Insurance Board this week approved a plan to charge state workers starting in January 2010 if they don’t have free health screenings.

If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor at no cost, enroll in a wellness program, or take steps on their own to improve their health. If they show progress in a follow-up screening, they won’t be charged. But if they don’t, they must pay starting in January 2011.
“We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health,” said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the insurance board.

Not all state employees see it that way.

“It’s terrible,” said health department employee Chequla Motley. “Some people come into this world big.”

Computer technician Tim Colley already pays $24 a month for being a smoker and doesn’t like the idea of another charge.

“It’s too Big Brotherish,” he said.

The board will apply the obesity charge to anyone with a body mass index of 35 or higher who is not making progress. A person 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 220 pounds, for example, would have a BMI of 35.5. A BMI of 30 is considered the threshold for obesity.

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I don’t think most people see the perfect storm brewing in the health insurance world- nor do they understand that much of the cost is due to the extremely unhealthy lifestyle that most Americans live. It is estimated that in the next 10 years, people could end up spending an average of 25% of their income on health care and insurance. Something has to give and we can only hope that our government and the insurance companies will attack the problem where it really lies and not simply slap a band-aid on  it. What Alabama is doing is a necessary first step since the only thing that most Americans respond to is making or losing money. Sad but true.