ObamaCare slams smokers

[Texashiker]

If you smoke, under the aca you can be charged up to 50% more than a non-smoker.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/25/obamacare-policies-slam-smokers-could-backfire/

For example, premiums for a 64-year-old non-smoker, according to the Kaiser Health Calculator, cost $9,000 a year for a standard "silver" insurance plan.

The same policy for a smoker could cost $13,600.

You know who this is going to hurt the most? People who are retired, poor and minorities, the very people the aca was supposed to help.

So hows that change working out for ya?

 

[TheVrolok]

Guess they should stop smoking?

 

[Jaskalas]

Guess they should stop smoking?

And eat what they are told to eat. (Fatties)

And have sex only when married. (STDs)

Plenty of preventable health costs as long as your life is dictated.

 

[EagleKeeper]

At 65; they also can switch to a system that does not penalize.

People have been told that smoking is hazardous for the past 40+ years; they chose to ignore it.
Now they are learning that it is bad for both to your health and wallet x 2.

 

[Texashiker]

At 65; they also can switch to a system that does not penalize.

Some retired people like to keep a supplemental plan.

My grandmother has such a plan. It helps fill the gap that medicare does not cover.

 

[TheVrolok]

And eat what they are told to eat. (Fatties)

And have sex only when married. (STDs)

Plenty of preventable health costs as long as your life is dictated.

Not equivalents. RR for smoking is far more clear cut and isolated. I would also have no problems with plans that incentivize cholesterol goals, weight goals, hell even STD goals. Should people with less risk not pay less for insurance?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Some retired people like to keep a supplemental plan.

My grandmother has such a plan. It helps fill the gap that medicare does not cover.

And I have the same for my wife.
Those plans are not tied to the ACA

 

[Texashiker]

And I have the same for my wife.
Those plans are not tied to the ACA

What kind of insurance policy do you that is not affected by the aca?

I thought all insurance policies now had to meet certain guidelines.

 

[nehalem256]

And eat what they are told to eat. (Fatties)

And have sex only when married. (STDs)

Plenty of preventable health costs as long as your life is dictated.

That doesn't sound like the ACA at all 😀

 

[fskimospy]

What kind of insurance policy do you that is not affected by the aca?

I thought all insurance policies now had to meet certain guidelines.

Medicare supplemental plans are not sold through the exchanges, therefore they do not have to comply with ACA guidelines.

 

[EagleKeeper]

What kind of insurance policy do you that is not affected by the aca?

I thought all insurance policies now had to meet certain guidelines.

The supplementals are not under ACA.

Someone is smart enough to realize that maternity coverage is not really needed at that age 😛

 

[poofyhairguy]

This is why I am terrified about the digitization and unification of health records. Will be harder to hide the wife's smoking then.

 

[sourn]

So is the same gonna be done with people who drink..

 

[boomerang]

So is the same gonna be done with people who drink..

Eventually. The progressive vision for America will necessitate total control over the citizenry.

 

[PokerGuy]

So is the same gonna be done with people who drink..

.... or that do anything that at some point the all-knowing government doesn't like.

 

[Drako]

So is the same gonna be done with people who drink..

Same can be done for gays, or fat people, or ...

 

[Matt1970]

But it's not your fault you are a smoker. You were tricked into it by the big tobacco companies.

 

[Spungo]

And have sex only when married. (STDs)

Actually the Obama administration actively supports sleeping around. I think the intended message is that birth control is subsidized, but the wink and nod message is that HIV and hepatitis treatment is subsidized.

They also promote being a retard.

 

[SheHateMe]

Maybe they should stop killing their lungs?

 

[Doppel]

If you smoke, under the aca you can be charged up to 50% more than a non-smoker.

Finally some good news about the ACA.

So is the same gonna be done with people who drink..

Obviously it should, if it is actually insurance. Insurance works on odds; drinkers are less healthy and require more care. Ergo, they should pay more.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

How is this something new? Life insurance has been quoting different rates for smokers/non smokers for years.

I'm glad my company fully covers tobacco (smoking and/or smokeless) cessation programs or drugs. I went through a self hypnotism smoking cessation program and haven't touched a cigarette in 4 1/2 years. It worked for me in the first session though there were 4 total sessions.

 

[yllus]

This is only notable if via the free market insurance companies wouldn't discriminate, but under ACA it would. Otherwise this is pretty obviously the free market at work.

 

[BoomerD]

This existed pre-Obummercare, purchasing health care on the "free market." Smoking, age, weight...all could cost you more in premiums...or get you denied coverage.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Not equivalents. RR for smoking is far more clear cut and isolated. I would also have no problems with plans that incentivize cholesterol goals, weight goals, hell even STD goals. Should people with less risk not pay less for insurance?

What about people with genetically superior health traits? Should they have to pay less because of their genetic makeup? Won't that slippery-slope eventually lead to a tax on the less genetically fortunate? Remember GATTACA? Do we want to live in a world like that? Sounds like a nazi's wet dream.

 

[Hugo Drax]

Eventually. The progressive vision for America will necessitate total control over the citizenry.

You can go to Nigeria. Everything is open in Nigeria.