The ill affects of smoking have been researched longer. Insurance companies have identified and implemented preventative measures. It is going to take a proactive insurance company to implement an innovative incentive program for weight loss/prevention before this will become the norm in all insurance plans. However, I don t know if all insurance companies pay in full for programs that stop smoking. They may pay a percentage, but there are very few procedures that are paid in full. Normally the insurance holder must cover a certain percentage of the cost. PPO/HMO/Medicare, it doesn t matter, some will just cost more or less. The cost will depend upon if the doctor/program is in the specified coverage groups.The truth that people don t see about insurance companies, is that they aren t discriminating. They are in business to make money and provide a service. To simply discount their business practices without knowing all the facts is an uneducated argument. I know for a fact I don t know all the pros cons, but I do know from researching the insurance industry: They are alwasy looking for a way to save money.
I don t have facts but I always thought that unless someone was morbidly obese they would likely out live a heavy smoker...this may not be true but even still I think that I m a product of society and if society feels that being overweight isn t as big of an issue (health wise) as smoking the likely things (as far as insurance suport) will not increase financial support. Alot of people probably feel that if you put yourself at a higher risk (in weight or otherwise) it should not be payed for to decrease your risk!So yes it is discrimination to pay for one and not the other!
