Alabama's Fat Workers Face Insurance Fees

[emsplace]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/376027_obesity22.html

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama, pushed to second in national obesity rankings by deep-fried Southern favorites, is cracking down on state workers who are too fat.

The state has given its 37,527 employees a year to start getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.

Alabama will be the first state to charge overweight state workers who don't work on slimming down. A handful of other states reward employees who adopt healthy behaviors.

Alabama already charges workers who smoke -- and has seen some success in getting them to quit -- but now has turned its attention to a problem that plagues many in the Deep South: obesity.

The State Employees' Insurance Board this week approved a plan to charge workers starting in January 2010 if they don't have free health screenings.

If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor at no cost, enroll in a wellness program or take steps on their own to improve their health. If they show progress in a follow-up screening, they won't be charged. But if they don't, they must pay starting in January 2011.

"We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health," said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the insurance board.

[emsplace]

This is going to cause an uproar because some people will say "how dare they"... but you can also see that proactively they will screen all employees for health probs and they will have a year to work on them before they are fined -- at NO cost to the employee.

Personally I can see that it will hurt people's feelings... but I wish our entire healthcare system would screen all of us and help us deal with our medical issues in a more proactive way before they become a drain on the entire economy.
I think it will actually be more positive than negative in the long run. Obesity is the biggest drain on our healthcare system - or one of the biggest.

Just curious to hear  your thoughts.

em

[emsplace]

and here are a couple of obesity articles to back myself up:

http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2005/08/17/medical_cost_of
http://www.naturalnews.com/001516.html

[Audrey]

My problem is with confidentiality. Will doctors now be under oath to divulge what used to be private doctor/patient information. It certainly sounds that way.

[emsplace]

Well, with obesity, I'm confident it is self-evident.
But I do see your point.
em

[Audrey]

If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor at no cost, enroll in a wellness program or take steps on their own to improve their health.

The article states that they will screen for many things not just obesity. I have a real problem with these forced screenings.

Drug testing for a job is FINE. Screening for high blood pressure and judging that someone must enter a program is not ok.

We are all different. Some people can eat carbs all day long and have no effects. Other people eat carbs and gain weight, their cholesterol goes up etc.

So, why aren't triglycerides on that list? Often that's a result of too many sweets in your diet. Heck diabetes is not always genetic, why not screen for that too and force folks to enter into programs??

So...do you want to know what I really think? LOL

[Aimee]

Very Interesting.  I'm sure other states will follow them.  I think as a whole nation we need to be Healthier.  Being healthy is very important.

[emsplace]

I think for me I totally see your concerns, really I do. But we are so unhealthy and we taxpayers and folks who can afford insurance already pay high premiums because folks who can't afford procedures or who can't pay their bills or who are on medicaid/medicare can have medical treatments. And in any given state our taxes pay for state workers insurance. I just think encouraging folks to take an interest in their health, will a) make a healthier nation and b) help insurance companies and employers cover more for those who PAY for insurance. This year, we pay higher premiums and have a higher co-pay and get less for it.
Our medical system is so broken... and I just can't imagine not taking advantage of health screenings and preventative healthcare that is of no cost to you. Perhaps you give up a little privacy. But in the long run, you are healthier. To me, it's an even trade - even a better deal than most get.
Plus, so many diseases are brought on by the way we live our lives. Just read up on obesity alone. In the WW meetings, people who lose and get active, don't have to take cholesterol, High BP, Diabetes and many other meds. It's a win-win for their pocket book and for their lives.
I do hate the invasion of privacy. But we are a desperate nation of very unhealthy folks - if you look at stats, that is.
It's unfortunate a state feels like they have to turn to this.

[Audrey]

We actuallyagree more than we disagree

I agree we have a broken health care system.

I also agree that we are the most obese nation out there (I think we are).

I just can't agree to the invasion of privacy.

Ok...how about NEW EMPLOYEES who know ahead of time what the rules are will be subject to......

That I might be able to not feel so strongly about.

Oh...and my insurance...UG I have the highest co-pays of anyone I know so believe me I do understand.

[emsplace]

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
emily