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Moehick
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Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
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Properly perfect™
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by dm24angel
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Pregnancy is still a choice that comes with higher medical bills. It's temporary but it can be recurring -- I work with a guy that has 10 or 11 kids. His wife was pg for a very long time.
Maybe so but are you trying to say that someone who smokes cigarettes every day for years is the same as someone getting pregnant and having a baby? Do you think they are equally deteriorating to your health?
No, of course I don't think they have the same effect on long term health.
I am just saying that an identifiable group of people can become pregnat and therefore could one day be subject to being charged higher premiums because of that.
True but I think the costs of treating a lifelong smoker far outweigh the cost of a 2, 3 even 10 births
a family of 6 will cost an insurance company 5 times as much as a cancer patient.
Ahh! But I bet it would be even worse if that family of 6 were smokers
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Posted 2/16/06 9:07 PM  |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
impotence is a medical condition they say and feel
Birth control is a federally mandated RX...if the company you choose to work for offers you RX coverage IT must be paid for unless you work in a relgious organization.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:07 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Moehick
Posted by dm24angel
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Pregnancy is still a choice that comes with higher medical bills. It's temporary but it can be recurring -- I work with a guy that has 10 or 11 kids. His wife was pg for a very long time.
Maybe so but are you trying to say that someone who smokes cigarettes every day for years is the same as someone getting pregnant and having a baby? Do you think they are equally deteriorating to your health?
No, of course I don't think they have the same effect on long term health.
I am just saying that an identifiable group of people can become pregnat and therefore could one day be subject to being charged higher premiums because of that.
True but I think the costs of treating a lifelong smoker far outweigh the cost of a 2, 3 even 10 births
a family of 6 will cost an insurance company 5 times as much as a cancer patient.
Ahh! But I bet it would be even worse if that family of 6 were smokers
 Im sure it would
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:08 PM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women. In 2004, an estimated 173,770 new cases of lung cancer and an estimated 160,440 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States.
Direct medical cost for treatment of lung cancer is approximately $5 billion annually.
Pretty d@mn $$$$$
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:09 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Pregnancy is still a choice that comes with higher medical bills. It's temporary but it can be recurring -- I work with a guy that has 10 or 11 kids. His wife was pg for a very long time.
Maybe so but are you trying to say that someone who smokes cigarettes every day for years is the same as someone getting pregnant and having a baby? Do you think they are equally deteriorating to your health?
No, of course I don't think they have the same effect on long term health.
I am just saying that an identifiable group of people can become pregnat and therefore could one day be subject to being charged higher premiums because of that.
True but I think the costs of treating a lifelong smoker far outweigh the cost of a 2, 3 even 10 births
I am not talking about the costs of the illness per se I am talking about isolating groups of people and saying it is ok to charge them more because they are susceptible to certain medical conditions.
It could be any group I just chose women because it was an easy group to isolate. People that drive to work are more likely to get into a car accident then people that take public transportaion. Older co-workers may incur higher medical bills. People with diabetes will have higher medical bills. My uncle is a healthy hypochondriac that goes to the doctors all the time but does not happen to be sick.
I just feel something like this starts the slippery slope mentioned above where people's personal lives will no longer be personal.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:11 PM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Christine
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Christine
Pregnancy is still a choice that comes with higher medical bills. It's temporary but it can be recurring -- I work with a guy that has 10 or 11 kids. His wife was pg for a very long time.
Maybe so but are you trying to say that someone who smokes cigarettes every day for years is the same as someone getting pregnant and having a baby? Do you think they are equally deteriorating to your health?
No, of course I don't think they have the same effect on long term health.
I am just saying that an identifiable group of people can become pregnat and therefore could one day be subject to being charged higher premiums because of that.
True but I think the costs of treating a lifelong smoker far outweigh the cost of a 2, 3 even 10 births
I am not talking about the costs of the illness per se I am talking about isolating groups of people and saying it is ok to charge them more because they are susceptible to certain medical conditions.
It could be any group I just chose women because it was an easy group to isolate. People that drive to work are more likely to get into a car accident then people that take public transportaion. Older co-workers may incur higher medical bills. People with diabetes will have higher medical bills. My uncle is a healthy hypochondriac that goes to the doctors all the time but does not happen to be sick.
I just feel something like this starts the slippery slope mentioned above where people's personal lives will no longer be personal.
I see your point but feel that in all the examples you gave people aren't choosing to put their life in danger....where as smokers know what smoking cigarettes does to their health and CHOOSE to do it anyway.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:13 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by MoehickI see your point but feel that in all the examples you gave people aren't choosing to put their life in danger....where as smokers know what smoking cigarettes does to their health and CHOOSE to do it anyway.
What about people who drink a lot?
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:14 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Moehick
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women. In 2004, an estimated 173,770 new cases of lung cancer and an estimated 160,440 deaths from lung cancer will occur in the United States.
Direct medical cost for treatment of lung cancer is approximately $5 billion annually.
Pretty d@mn $$$$$
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:14 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Moehick
I see your point but feel that in all the examples you gave people aren't choosing to put their life in danger....where as smokers know what smoking cigarettes does to their health and CHOOSE to do it anyway.
I see your point also -- I am just looking at the bigger picture from a different angle.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:16 PM |
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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
I have to agree with Christine as someone who is diabetic. Do I have to worry that because I have diabetes that my insurance will go up.
I am looking at it as isolating a specific group of people. It could lead to other groups of people that have potentially big insurance bills. KWIM
Message edited 2/16/2006 9:23:36 PM.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:23 PM |
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baghag
:P
Member since 5/05 10278 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by skew
and they would monitor this how?
I was wondering the same thing.
Who in the world would admit to it?
And how would you prove that John Smith is a smoker? Do you then test everyone who has a lung problem? 
Can you imagine the lawsuits?
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:23 PM |
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DjPiLL
Member since 5/05 3664 total posts
Name:
Richard
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by baghag
Who in the world would admit to it?
And how would you prove that John Smith is a smoker? Do you then test everyone who has a lung problem?
Can you imagine the lawsuits?
The employer would subject you to a medical exam as a requirement to be eligable for medical coverage. Similar to the same exam you have to take for life insurance.
They will be able to tell if you are a smoker or not through that exam.
Maybe they will make employees take the exam every few years to "monitor" you. Who knows... but I am sure it can be done if they really wanted to.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:26 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by baghag
Posted by skew
and they would monitor this how?
I was wondering the same thing.
Who in the world would admit to it?
And how would you prove that John Smith is a smoker? Do you then test everyone who has a lung problem?
Can you imagine the lawsuits?
maybe like life insurance? If you lie and say your a non smoker and they find out they can sue you for witholding...
but your right, how would tehy ever FIND out is beyond me.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:26 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Stacey1403
I have to agree with Christine as someone who is diabetic. Do I have to worry that because I have diabetes that my insurance will go up.
I am looking at it as isolating a specific group of people. It could lead to other groups of people that have potentially big insurance bills. KWIM
now that is stretching it a LOT....
You just can't compare that...
Did you have a choice in your Diabetic condition?
Did you cause it?
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:27 PM |
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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Redhead
Posted by Stacey1403
I have to agree with Christine as someone who is diabetic. Do I have to worry that because I have diabetes that my insurance will go up.
I am looking at it as isolating a specific group of people. It could lead to other groups of people that have potentially big insurance bills. KWIM
now that is stretching it a LOT....
You just can't compare that...
Did you have a choice in your Diabetic condition?
Did you cause it?
That's not what I am saying. I am saying it "could" potentially open the door to other things.
I hate smoking too!!
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:28 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Stacey1403
Posted by Redhead
Posted by Stacey1403
I have to agree with Christine as someone who is diabetic. Do I have to worry that because I have diabetes that my insurance will go up.
I am looking at it as isolating a specific group of people. It could lead to other groups of people that have potentially big insurance bills. KWIM
now that is stretching it a LOT....
You just can't compare that...
Did you have a choice in your Diabetic condition?
Did you cause it?
That's not what I am saying. I am saying it "could" potentially open the door to other things.
I hate smoking too!!
i am very fearful of the open door myself...
but i just like the idea of our society taking acts to deter smoking....
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:30 PM |
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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Well that I can totally agree with
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:30 PM |
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baghag
:P
Member since 5/05 10278 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by DjPiLL
The employer would subject you to a medical exam as a requirement to be eligable for medical coverage. Similar to the same exam you have to take for life insurance.
They will be able to tell if you are a smoker or not through that exam.
Maybe they will make employees take the exam every few years to "monitor" you. Who knows... but I am sure it can be done if they really wanted to.
What a massive undertaking...I wonder how often you would have to be tested?
What about those who are around second hand smoke, like firefighters? Or the children of smokers?
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:33 PM |
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baghag
:P
Member since 5/05 10278 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
What about the older folks- who have smoked 20, 30, 40 years- but have quit? Their lungs are still very damaged, even if they have quit. I wonder if they will have to pay more also?
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:38 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Redhead
Posted by Stacey1403
I have to agree with Christine as someone who is diabetic. Do I have to worry that because I have diabetes that my insurance will go up.
I am looking at it as isolating a specific group of people. It could lead to other groups of people that have potentially big insurance bills. KWIM
now that is stretching it a LOT....
Did you cause it?
Its not stretching it because diabetes is 50% of the time a lifestyle disease. SOME people have no control but some get it from being overweight, which is a choice as sure as smoking is.
Ya know Im starting to change my opinion here...
Because good points are being made here. Overweight people have MUCH much more medical problems then smokers and so should they be charged more? Alcoholics have severe diseases and cost health insurers millions in detox attempts...
heart disease's leading cause is obesity...
etc..etc..
Im starting to see the bad in this idea.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:43 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
50% as opposed to 100% is different IMO.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:46 PM |
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skew
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 6794 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by baghag
Posted by skew
and they would monitor this how?
I was wondering the same thing.
Who in the world would admit to it?
And how would you prove that John Smith is a smoker? Do you then test everyone who has a lung problem?
Can you imagine the lawsuits?
as a smoker, i sure as h e l l would not admit to it. don't mean to offend anyone, just being honest.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:49 PM |
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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by Redhead
50% as opposed to 100% is different IMO.
But 100% of smokers will not get sick or have heart disease and cancer either... So thats different as well
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:52 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by dm24angel
Posted by Redhead
50% as opposed to 100% is different IMO.
But 100% of smokers will not get sick or have heart disease and cancer either... So thats different as well
what do they die of then?
even my aunt...who was a BIG smoker. Got alzheimers and STILL died of cancer...
they will not get sick, not have heart disease or cancer...what are they dying from?
Message edited 2/16/2006 9:55:56 PM.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:55 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: Smokers charged more for health insurance
Posted by dm24angel
Posted by Redhead
50% as opposed to 100% is different IMO.
But 100% of smokers will not get sick or have heart disease and cancer either... So thats different as well
Also what about people that don't have a choice as others have mentioned. Those subjected to second hand smoke?
I'm a militant anti-smoker and am all for anything that will get people to quit too. I think insurance companies and employers will try to get out of paying for anything they can avoid. This would be just a path to the road I don't think we should be on.
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| Posted 2/16/06 9:56 PM |
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