Why don't obese people deservehealthcare for obese related diseases?

Answer 1

You're hitting on one of the most sensitive healthcare issues today. Certainly anybody who has the money to pay for healthcare is entitled to it, no questions asked. The problem has to do with either insurance coverage or government subsidy. When health insurance was created as a business beginning with workman's compensation for coal miners, it was thought that people had little control over fate. Today, through medical science people know a great deal about preventive health. Moreover, medical insurance companies are increasingly factoring in known medical conditions in determining premiums, so that at the end of the day, people are being expected to effectively cover their own medical costs plus insurance company profits. The idea of shared risk seems to be fading away, and we're returning to the days of personal resonsibility when it comes to our own health. When you ask, "why don't obese people deserve healthcare for obese related diseases?", the insurance companies aren't even interested in the ethical issues involved, because they're in the business solely for the money. If it's not profitable for them to cover medical costs of obese people, it's irrelevant to them if that's even a moral position to take or not. So, short of paying their own way, obese people wil have to appeal to the government for nationalized health coverage. But anytime you involve the government for subsidy, the government will intervene in your life and you will lose a degree of independence. It's not any different from welfare, where it's expected that able bodied people work. Able bodied obese people will be expected to do something about their condition.

Answer 2

It's not that they don't deserve healthcare, it's a matter of proving to the insurance companies that the obesity is the factor which is causing their healthcare condition. I recently watched a story were a woman lost hundreds of pounds and had so much excess skin that it was causing severe rashes and skin problems. To solve the problem, she needed an expensive surgery to remove the extra skin. The insurance co. denied her claim and said that it was a vanity surgery and did not see it as medical. The insurance companies are the ones that refuse to cover these obesity issues. This is a common occurrence in the United States due to our health care system, this would not be an issue in Canada were their healthcare system provides for everyone with little or no question.

Answer 3

I think everyone "deserves" health care, it's just a matter of who's going to pay for it! There's a stigma with being obese, a widespread perception that since it's the fat person's fault for eating too much and not exercising, then it's their fault for whatever health problems they get as a result.

Obesity worldwide is a serious health problem, and will soon be considered a global epidemic, rivaling infectious diseases. I think people need to be given the tools to manage their weight and diet and health, but at the same time they have to take responsibility for taking care of themselves.

Now, are you talking about a specific request for health care that was denied? I"m a little unclear as to exactly what your question is.

Answer 4

Should someone who cuts themselves be eligible for reconstructive surgery?
Obeseity is more often than not a self-inflicted condition, which can be combatted with totally non-medical practices, like healthy eating and exercise.
If obesity is the product of a disease and is therefore inevitable, then perhaps it should be covered.

Answer 5

How do you figure?