Insurers To Reward Patients for
Losing Weight. & Exercising
Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson wants
Insurance companies to give discounts to customers
who lose weight and exercise every day and the
U.S. government plans to help them do it.
He praised Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Fortis Health
for its plan that gives a 15% discount to customers
who stay at a healthy weight and said more insurers
should make similar changes to encourage disease
prevention.
"Right now most people are insulated from
the cost of their behavior," Thompson told
a news conference. "When Mr. Smith has an
unhealthy habit, his co-workers, his company and
the taxpayers pay for the consequences of his
choices."
Thompson's comments came amid growing concern
about the public cost of treating America's obesity
epidemic.
More than 65% of Americans are either overweight
or obese. Thompson said children as young as 8
have type-II diabetes, which is linked with obesity,
poor eating habits and a lack of exercise.
A third of all cancers can be linked to a lack
of exercise and unhealthy eating habits, Thompson
said, as can heart disease.
Thompson said he would like to see insurers, and
employers who pay for health insurance, pass the
costs back to those who are insured, to give them
incentives to lose weight, exercise and stop smoking.
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