12345

Obamacare Provision Allows Employer(s) To Penalize Overweight Employees? (Read 325 times)

Better I Leave


    So here's an article I came across that states the following...

     

    "The new health care law includes a provision that would allow employers with more than 50 employees to require overweight workers who do not exercise to pay more to cover their insurance costs."

     

    Here's the link to the article...

    http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/20/172098418/money-replaces-willpower-in-programs-promoting-weight-loss?utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=20130220

     

    I suppose it could be considered "incentive", yes? Oddly enough, a couple of years ago I proposed to my employer an incentive program that would reward a healthy lifestyle. Since my employer pays for most of my health care coverage, I suggested a program where the employer would pay more of the copay if the employee could demonstrate and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It was summarily dismissed.

     

    Thoughts?

    Better I Leave


      Oh...and of course, what would the criteria be? I just had my body fat hydrostatically tested and I have the body fat percentage of an athlete. Of course going with just my weight/height and the BMI, I am considered obese.


      Best Present Ever

        the affordable health care act allows employers to offer wellness incentives, and those could include lower costs for appropriate weight.  There were groups working what the rules for those incentives would be and a number of organizations were concerned that they be structured in a way that doesn't stigmatize obesity.  I'm not sure where that regulation is.  But nothing REQUIRES employers to charge overweight employees more.   The idea is actually free-enterprise based.  There are a number of provisions in the Act that allow for states and employers to innovate in the hopes that those that work can be scaled up.   I know, crazy socialists, thinking that folks on the ground might be able to figure out what will work for them, rather than having it imposed from afar.

         

        Different versions of these incentives are already in play. My eldest works for Whole Foods.  He recently had a wellness check up through them that measured cotinine, cholesterol, his weight and bp.  As a result of being fit and healthy, he now gets a larger discount on his WF purchases (it went from something like 13% to 20%.  If his total cholesterol were a smidge lower, he'd have gotten a 25% discount I think.)

          Good points.

           

          I just think it's more important to run by feel versus running to a pre-defined pace.  Some days are just easier than others.  Hard days hard and easy days easy as the old saying goes.  Plus you can't give 110% - 100% is as high as it goes.  Sorry.

          "Good-looking people have no spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter." - Lester Bangs

            ---I predict there is a high risk of this topic going Nuclear by page three, simply because Obamacare is mentioned.

             

            Shy

            The Plan '15 →   ///    "Run Hard, Live Easy."   ∞

              does favorable cotinine, cholesterol, weight and bp information = being fit and healthy?

               

              or as Lank suggested... I usually move my shoes to low impact (trails and treadmill) at around 300 miles.  But even that isn't a hard and fast rule.  Some listening to your body is important.

               

               

               

               

                Easy is an effort, not a pace.

                Runners run

                AmoresPerros


                Options,Account, Forums

                  This one goes to 110.

                  It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.


                  #artbydmcbride

                    I find leaning slightly into the hill helps when the going is steep.  Your mileage may vary.....

                     

                     

                     

                    but I doubt it

                     

                    Runners run

                      Oh...and of course, what would the criteria be? I just had my body fat hydrostatically tested and I have the body fat percentage of an athlete. Of course going with just my weight/height and the BMI, I am considered obese.

                       

                      Don't weigh yourself with your shirt on.

                      "If you have the fire, run..." -John Climacus

                      Better I Leave


                        ---I predict there is a high risk of this topic going Nuclear by page three, simply because Obamacare is mentioned.

                         

                        Shy

                         

                        I suppose you're right. I really did want to get how and what folks thought of it though as I think the cost(s) of health care are rising as are the amount of sedentary/overweight people. I believe I read somewhere that if trends continue, a full 33% of Americans will be diabetic by 2020.

                        AmoresPerros


                        Options,Account, Forums

                          Wait til they get their hands on genetic screening; then you'll see some varying rates Smile

                          It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.


                          A Saucy Wench

                            I find leaning slightly into the hill helps when the going is steep.  Your mileage may vary.....

                             

                             

                             

                            but I doubt it

                             

                            Of course you do, otherwise you'd be "Ilenebackward".  or maybe "Idontlene"

                            I have become Death, the destroyer of electronic gadgets

                             

                            "When I got too tired to run anymore I just pretended I wasnt tired and kept running anyway" - dd, age 7


                            sugnim

                              ---I predict there is a high risk of this topic going Nuclear by page three, simply because Obamacare is mentioned.

                               

                              Shy

                               

                              I completely agree.

                               

                              However, a lot of employers already do this.  The last place I worked for, as well as the place that my SO works for now, both offer lower premiums and lower co-pays to employees who do not smoke, are at a healthy weight, and maintain good cholesterol, and blood pressure.  They offer employer-sponsored screenings for those who would like to try for the discount, and those who would like to work toward a goal of getting healthier & qualifying for the discount.  The employer does not see the results; they only get a pass/fail mark from the nurse who does the screening.

                               

                              I think it's a great idea.


                              #artbydmcbride

                                 

                                Of course you do, otherwise you'd be "Ilenebackward".  or maybe "Idontlene"

                                 

                                Cool

                                 

                                Runners run

                                12345