A new solution to the obesity crisis?

[JulesMaximus]

CNNMoney.com

Employers can now cut insurance co-pays for workers who follow healtheir lifestyles.
By Ian Mount
September 4 2007: 10:57 AM EDT


(FSB Magazine) -- Midwestern hospital operator Clarian Health caused a stir when it announced that next year employees who smoke will be assessed $5 per paycheck in extra insurance copayments, and that in 2009 it will extend the penalty to workers with high cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose; obese employees will be charged $10 extra.

Final federal rules for such programs went into effect in July, giving employers firm legal footing to push workers into healthier lifestyles. Rex Materials, a $20-million-a-year maker of insulation in Fowlerville, Mich., has proved the programs work. In 2005 president David Rex offered to cut premium copays $10 a week, or about 20%, for workers on the PPO plan who undergo a health-risk assessment.Those who maintained a minimum rating or raised their scores closer to the cutoff by taking steps such as quitting smoking or lowering blood pressure kept the discount.

In 2006, when the average small firm saw health premiums rise 8.8%, Rex had no increase. Sharon Cohen, health-care benefits counsel at Watson Wyatt Worldwide, says Rex's carrot beats Clarian's stick. "Positive reinforcement always works better," she says.

Interesting.

If you start hitting people in the wallet maybe it will force people to change their lifestyle. What a concept.

 

[StevenYoo]

hey, whatever works

 

[FoBoT]

i like carrots better than sticks

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i like carrots better than sticks

I like carrot sticks.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

It's good that they can do this without getting legal heat about discriminating or anything - this is just a logical way to help reduce health costs and promote being healthy.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: FoBoT
i like carrots better than sticks

I like carrot sticks.

dang, that is like having your cake and eating it too!


i like carrot cake, that frosting is really yummy

 

[Henrythewound]

$5 isn't enough to motivate people. maybe a "health discount" would work

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Henrythewound
$5 isn't enough to motivate people. maybe a "health discount" would work

Well, it opens the door to passing on the higher costs of healthcare to the least healthy people. I would expect that you would see this creep up over time.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: Henrythewound
$5 isn't enough to motivate people. maybe a "health discount" would work

Gotta start small or people will riot.

 

[Aikouka]

A good motivator for me is attempting to beat "the curse" of not dying at ~50 like my dad (and his dad) did. Low metabolism, high blood pressure (runs in the family) and a natural unwillingness to visit a doctor with possible problems doesn't lead to good times!

It's actually cheaper for me to eat a bit healthier too .

 

[ViviTheMage]

hopefully a start to something good...

 

[Eos]

Who decides what is healthy?

A lot of people agree that BMI is not an all encompassing method for determining 'health'.

 

[Squisher]

I have mixed feelings on this.

In the 29 years of working for GM/American Axle I probably used 6 sick days, was never on sick leave or workman's comp. (I never even used vacation days until about seven years ago). My job was a very physical one and in my time there I could easily say that I was in the top 5% of productive workers. Yet, I am very overweight.

I understand the concept and maybe it would have motivated me to lose weight, I just don't know.

 

[Henrythewound]

BMI is one thing, being a smoker is entirely another. It would be hard to draw a line down your employee pool "separating" healthy from "unhealthy"

 

[Jeff7]

Of course there'll be some complaints. My grandmother is probably in better physical shape than I am. She goes on bike trips regularly, enjoys hiking, and jogs daily. Her diet is also better than mine.
But she has high blood pressure, and her cholesterol levels were really high. She's always been the sort who prefers fruits and vegetables to meats, and I think she drinks skim milk, too. For some reason though, she's just got really high cholesterol.


Still, it's an interesting plan - it's effectively a tax on obesity.

 

[Henrythewound]

"here's your paycheck fatass, maybe now you won't be able to buy so many goddamn donuts"