Devoted to the Insurance industry and all thing related

The health care provider Clarian Health Partners Inc. has announced that “starting in 2009 they will begin charging workers extra for insurance if they let health risks such as smoking, obesity or high cholesterol go unchecked” according to Foxnews.com.  It seems like more and more companies are deciding to implement wellness programs in order to save on health care costs.

Without a universal health care system these are the types of viable options companies need to take to soften the steadily rising expense of health care.  Clarian will deduct $30 “from each biweekly paycheck if workers can’t prove they’re working to improve their health.”  In addition “workers who smoke will pay $5 extra every two weeks starting in 2008.”

These wellness programs seem like they’re encroaching on personal choice.  What do you think?  If someone wants to smoke they have the right to do that, but Clarian is going to punish smokers so they can save money on health care costs.  

 

The article then mentions “federal law prohibits a person in a group health insurance plan from being discriminated against because of personal health factors.”  Therefore Clarian can’t charge people money for continuing to smoke?  

“Clarian said it is giving employees time to make improvements before most of the extra charges take effect and is providing them with free smoking-cessation and wellness programs.”

If it’s illegal to discriminate based on health factors then what difference does it make if Clarian is providing smoking-cessation programs?