South Carolina has introduced a bill that would charge an additional $25 premium per month for obese employees covered under state health care (see link below). To make matters worse the state heath insurance plan has specific exclusion for all weight loss surgery whether medically necessary or not.
----------
Bill would up premiums on obese workers
The Associated Press
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/680042.html?RSS=localCOLUMBIA, S.C. -- Obese public employees would have to pay an extra $25 monthly for their state health insurance under a bill up for debate in South Carolina.
The measure sponsored by GOP Sen. Greg Ryberg of Aiken is on the agenda Tuesday in a Senate subcommittee. It would tie the surcharge to employees' body-mass index, a weight and height measurement.
The proposal follows a vote last August to increase health insurance premiums of public workers who smoke. The smoking surcharge is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2010. It was approved by a five-member board that oversees the state budget.
Smokers called it an unfair increase, since smoking isn't the only bad habit that increases health care costs.
South Carolina has among the nation's highest rates of obesity and diabetes.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
