Here's something we're all going to face in the VERY near Future?

Question

It is becoming increasingly clear that one of the things facing us from the Insurance companies will be to charge us according to out lifestyles. Smokers, drinkers, overeaters, undereaters, underexercisers, overexercisers, workaholics, gamblers, those who drive too fast, those who drive too slow, etc. etc.
What these people are saying is that if you do anything extreme and become a medical risk whether mentally or physically it's going to affect your premium. It will start with the smokers, then the drinkers, then it will continue to snowball.
My question is... How many of us fit the perfect citizen criteria? Already we, or at least I, can't get insurance because of pre- existing conditions. Are those of us who don't measure up to the expectations of a board of inquiry going to be left out? Are we any less human than others who are more fortunate or may have made all the right decisions and were afforded the wonderful opportunities to make mental and physical healthy choices in life

mark...I saw on the news where United has just started it.

will i am...This is what i'm talking about and like I mentioned to "mark" this was on the morning news today and United insurance was the company that was being interviewed.

stay fan1... This is also directed toward anyone whether it is their choice or not. I'll bet you're not perfect in some way either. I wouldn't deny you medical assistance if you needed it regardless of who you are or where you've been.

Answer 1

From their business standpoint- why shouldn't they do that? They want to run their business the same way car insurance runs theirs.

They already deny coverage to "pre-existings".

Fact is humans are more important than cars. We need a better idea.

Answer 2

This will never fly.

You would also have to factor in these conditions.

Do you live in an inner city

Your genetics / family history

What race you are (each race has conditions that are more prone in that race)

Traffic tickets (speeders are more likely to get into an accident)

Women (pregnancy is more costly)

You would need a cost chart broken down by occupation

Geographic breakdown

You would need dynamic rates for people that lose/gain weight and start/stop smoking


For all of these reasons, this cannot happen. This is not like homeowners insurance where people pay more for flood insurance because they live in a flood plain. If people cannot get health insurance, one of two things happen.

1) They do not seek medical assistance and they die

2) The government (we) pay


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United insurance is asking for lawsuits if they factor in some things but not others. The fat guy that gets charged more for insurance than the woman of child bearing age or the guy that has a family history of cancer. They will lose.

Answer 3

Not with my healthcare plan. It's NOT FOR PROFIT.

Only insurance companies who are concerned more with making big bucks for the CEO, rather than giving care to people, will do this.

There are still a few NOT FOR PROFIT health care companies out there, I have found one, and am sticking with it. I suggest that others do the same. Mass. is requiring that EVERYONE has healthcare. For profit corporations cannot survive in this environment, and will end up losing money, customers or both, because health care shouldn't be about the CEO and other execs making money, it should be about people getting health care. The tide is changing.

Answer 4

I was thinking about that today. I've noticed "news" stories that obesity is contagious from the people you surround yourself with. They are also banning trans fats, or they are trying to, from NYC. Smoking bans are catching on across the world. We are headed in the direction that one day anything unhealthy or risky will be banned. We should load up on beer and pizza before they pull it from the shelves.

But I was thinking also maybe it's fair for healthier people to have lower premiums. I don't know where you draw the line but someone who leads a healthy lifestyle versus someone who just kind of lets themselves go, eat junk and no exercise, do not really deserve to pay the same premium. Then there are medical conditions beyond our control, so ....I don't know, I hope they figure it out.

Answer 5

Shoot, it is happening already my health insurance company sends us a questionnaire every year and asks about each employee's health. Because I work here and am on antiretroviral medication my boss' premium jumped way up. Good thing he loves my work and he is a democrat!!!!!!!!!!! Or I might not have a job even though I am more than capable. I can see companies firing you if you have any kind of chronic illness or take medication on a regular basis because you will make their health insurance premiums jump.

Insurance companies already have a national database that they check before issuing insurance, pretty soon they will know everything about all of us.

Answer 6

>>Are we any less human than others who are more fortunate or may have made all the right decisions and were afforded the wonderful opportunities to make mental and physical healthy choices in life?<<

No, you are simply a higher risk and therefore should bear a greater burden of the costs.
Like drunk drivers have higher car insurance - under your theory, THEIR increased costs should be spread to ALL of us.

What "fortunate opportunity" presented itself to me when I chose NOT to be 100 pounds overweight? Or when I choose every day to wake up 45 minutes early to exercise? Or when I make healthy choices for lunch?

Who forced smokers to smoke? Gamblers to gamble?
If your lifestyle choice is to be unhealthy, you should pay the price - EXACTLY like if your lifestyle choice is to eschew vices, save your money, and retire early, you should ENJOY the benefits.

Answer 7

I will straight up punch my doctor in the face if it ever comes down to this.

But you raise a good point and I do believe this is the direction it's heading. But I have to ask where it stops. What about the people who have high stress jobs, like politicians, and are more prone to health issues because of it? Will they be charged more? Will people taking prescription drugs be spared because they are the insurance companies' bread and butter?

Answer 8

First problem, having a for profit health care system. Second, it should be obvious by now our health care system has a first commandment, thou shall make a profit. What they are trying to do is rig the game. It's like going into a casino and only being allowed to play if you are losing. If we were truly concerned about health care and not profit, things would change. I'm ashamed that the United States of America doesn't do something to take care of her citizens and their health problems. Isn't health care bordering on the moral and ethical boundaries of conflict of interest by being for profit? With all the information available it is hard to deny, money rules health care, not the concern of our citizens and their health.

Answer 9

There are many things going on right now that is becoming concerning.We are headed for a strange and dangerous new age where survival of the fittest is becoming more and apparent.If we keep on this path forced euthanasia is going to be a real and enforced idea in the next 20 years.I could give you examples of how this is already happening but you wouldn't believe me anyhow until it happens to someone you know.

Answer 10

The insurance companies,they are bean counters. You have it right, Only the rich,will have the best of health care. To change this we need to fight them thu the goverment. We need to vote for the person who believe it's an American Right to have Free Health Care.