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Does it Make Sense to Charge Smokers More?

Health insurance companies tend to charge a higher premium for people who smoke. Employers may impose a higher premium on workers who are smokers than they do for workers who are non-smokers. Does this make sense? This is a question many are asking right now. It is a rather controversial concept. Should people who smoke, or people who are obese, pay more for their health insurance premium than people who are healthier? Is it fair to impose a higher rate on a group of people who are less healthy than the others? Does the penalty really influence people to change … Continue reading →

Clinic Will Charge Unhealthy Workers Higher Insurance Rates

The Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, is going to charge workers who are considered to be unhealthy a 21% higher health insurance premium than it will charge to employees who are healthy. There is a lot of debate over whether this type of plan achieves the goal of making workers become healthier. Charging some workers more for insurance, based upon that person’s health, is part of a growing trend. The Cleveland Clinic is about to do something that many other employers have done. They want their workers to become healthier. More and more employers have become very interested in how healthy, … Continue reading →

Genetics Influence Your Ability to Quit Smoking

Are you a smoker who is having great difficulty quitting? Part of the reason you are struggling so much could be due to your genetics. A study that focused on twins, and their smoking habits, revealed that there is a genetic link that influences people to start smoking, (and affects how hard it is for them to quit). I have plenty of smokers in my family. My mother has two brothers, and both of them smoke. One of my brothers is a smoker. My father has at least two siblings that spent many years smoking. This is the sort of … Continue reading →

Should Smokers Pay More for Health Insurance?

There are a lot of employers, all across the United States, that are doing something new with their employer sponsored health insurance plans. Non-smokers are offered lower premiums than what is offered to smokers. Is this fair? A poll shows what the majority of Americans think about this issue. Health insurance is expensive. Everyone who has ever tried to find an individual health insurance plan discovers this truth very quickly. Every employee who has had their employer take more out of their paycheck, in order to pay for health insurance premiums, is aware of this as well. Employers want to … Continue reading →