Thought Provoking, Testing for Smokers

[DizBelle]

Normally it it is. I have always see single, single parent with child and than family plans. Cheaper ofcourse for the single person. I have never seen one charging for the amount of kids you have.

Compare the per person cost of a single person to the per person cost for a family of 8. You cannot tell me that the single person is paying less per person than the family of 8.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

What you pay depends on how long you have been paying in,so that really depends on the homeowner whether or not they have paid enough to cover their damages. Also, I assume that if you continue to submit claims, your premium goes up or your contract is not renewed (although I don't know if thats legal). I have heard horror stories of people trying to find HOI if they had previously filed claims, so it may be.
Emergency funding from the state, does that happen in every case? I'm sure there are requirements to be met in order for that, so again individual circumstances may come into play. I don't think the State will be declaring any emergencies because my local creek flooded and 100 homes were damaged. A larger scale flood, like the river, maybe but I don't really know.

I agree, that we all put in, and there are many people who pay into the system who never need to use what they do, some use it all and then some. That still doesn't mean there is something wrong with expecting those people who choose to put themselves at a higher risk of having to use the system, pay more because of that choice.

Then why not make people who have 4-5 kids pay for each of those children, versus a Family plan.

 

[luvmy3]

Exactly.

Anyway, people who live a healthy lifestyle and make good choices should already get a "discount" in a sense, by paying less co-payments and less co-insurance due to fewer hospital visits, etc.

Yes some plans pay 100% but most people still have co-pays and co-insurance on top of premiums.

My dh's employer actually gives different rebates (as much as $150 each) for having a healthy lifestyle, eating right, making sure your kids are being fed right and are active.

 

[luvmy3]

Then why not make people who have 4-5 kids pay for each of those children, versus a Family plan.

We pay for each child, so its not unheard of.

ETA, I said before I'm on the fence. As a matter of principle I don't see the wrong in people being financially repsonsible for their choices. However I know this is a very slippery slope and the answers are not black and white.

 

[kt_mom]

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I agree, that we all put in, and there are many people who pay into the system who never need to use what they do, some use it all and then some. That still doesn't mean there is something wrong with expecting those people who choose to put themselves at a higher risk of having to use the system, pay more because of that choice.

The problem lies in who gets to decide what's bad and who has to pay more? Where do we draw the line? There are all sorts of things that cause people to use the health care system more.

A woman in her child bearing years is more likely to use the health care system more during that time then a person of the same age that smokes. I'm a smoker but I've never used my health care because of it. I have however had two children and my insurance definitely paid out some money for that.

My DH is not a smoker but he has gout and he LOVES red meat, leafy greens, and likes to have a few drinks now and then. All things he's been told cause problems with his gout which causes him to have to go to the Dr. and/or get prescriptions.

Maybe they should test everyone for gout and then test to see if they eat the things that cause the gout to flare up thus causing them to have to use their insurance.

We all make choices everyday about things that could cause us to have to go to the Dr. To single out one particular thing just because its now "taboo" and say that those people should pay more, is opening up the door to all kinds of problems. Like I said, once they make that the norm they will move on to something else. You may find yourself being tested for alcohol, or soda/caffeine or whatever else they deem appropriate and it will be much harder to fight because you let them slip one through just because it was the cool thing to hate at the time.

 

[luvmy3]

More choices, and competition like car or home insurance. You dont want to pay extra for Biff's insurance because he charges more because you are a smoker, or because he doesn't cover ABC because your XYZ, head on over to Marty McFly's. The problem comes when we don't have a choice unless its a choice to go without.

 

[disfan07]

I completely agree with it. Yes some smokers havent had to use the health care system because of it but it doesn't matter. You are making a choice that you KNOW puts your health at risk.

Insurance companies are charging me ridiculously high premiums or not covering me at all because of health conditions I had NO control over. Why should smokers not have to pay for a CHOICE they are making.

I didn't choose any of the health problems that I have. I had no control over any of them. But any smoker who gets sick as a RESULT of smoking made that choice. They knew what they were doing and it could have been prevented.

I live a very healthy lifestyle. Gym 4 times a week (usually average 6 hours/week), 90% of my meals are fresh, home cooked meals (I am still a college student so 100% is not realistic), I don't drink, I don't smoke, etc. So why is it fair that I get screwed by insurance companies but people who make bad lifestyle choices who just happen to be lucky enough NOT to get sick get off easy?

No one will ever be able to explain to me why it is fair that I get penalized for something that I had no control over but it would not be fair to charge smokers for the choice they make. Yes, it may not be illegal but everyone should know by now that it is not a good decision to smoke.

 

[disney1990]

I have worked for companies that their insurance charged more for people that smoked -- they charged more for people that were obese -- and even more for people that were mobidly obese. No additional for those people that were just overweight.