Should There Be an Obesity 'Penalty'?
Alabama state workers who are obese have one year to slim down—or they'll have to start paying for health insurance.
Beginning in 2010, Alabama, the second-heaviest state in the U.S., will start charging $25 a month if its 37,000 employees don't submit to free health screenings. (Smokers are already charged $24 a month, and that will increase to $25.) Alabama will be the first state to charge workers for being overweight. The health insurance is ordinarily free. According to the Associated Press:
Some other facts to ponder:
There 45.7 million people in the country are without health insurance.
Obesity rates are up in 37 states, and at least 20% percent of adults are obese in every state except Colorado.
Should obese employees be penalized financially? Is Alabama acting a bit too much like Big Brother?
Beginning in 2010, Alabama, the second-heaviest state in the U.S., will start charging $25 a month if its 37,000 employees don't submit to free health screenings. (Smokers are already charged $24 a month, and that will increase to $25.) Alabama will be the first state to charge workers for being overweight. The health insurance is ordinarily free. According to the Associated Press:
"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."
Some other facts to ponder:
There 45.7 million people in the country are without health insurance.
Obesity rates are up in 37 states, and at least 20% percent of adults are obese in every state except Colorado.
Should obese employees be penalized financially? Is Alabama acting a bit too much like Big Brother?
