Older Smokers Fined By ACA

People that need to buy individual health insurance under Obamacare can be billed much more by private insurers if they are smokers. But fatties don't have to pay more.

Smoking has declined a lot in the past 20 years for a variety of reasons, including public hatred, high taxes, and few places to smoke. This new additon just might end it all. Or people will just lie about it.

Sorry to tell you this, but smokers have been paying an extra premium since the 50's/60's.... Or is that somehow Obama's fault too? (And they can lie about it all they want... The first time they do a comprehensive blood-test, do you not think the nicotine and side-products won't show up?)

Slow day for "outrage" stories?

It wasn't an outrage story, just interesting to see what are addictions that are good to go and what aren't.

And if you are a smoker, stay on your work plan.

FredHayek wrote: People that need to buy individual health insurance under Obamacare can be billed much more by private insurers if they are smokers. But fatties don't have to pay more.

Smoking has declined a lot in the past 20 years for a variety of reasons, including public hatred, high taxes, and few places to smoke. This new additon just might end it all. Or people will just lie about it.

It's not a "fine"...But you knew that... You are paying a slightly higher premium for your choice of an unhealthy behavior that leads to cancer, respiratory problems, heart problems, and a host of other illnesses...

By the same token, obesity is NOT always due to unhealthy life-choices... But you knew that too.

LadyJazzer wrote: It's not a "fine"

It's a tax.

It's a premium for your choice of an unhealthy behavior that leads to cancer, respiratory problems, heart problems, and a host of other illnesses...

You don't want to pay the extra premium, don't do the unhealthy behavior...

(Oh, did you hear... Women pay higher health insurance premiums for the "unhealthy behavior" of being able to get pregnant. Unfortunately, this is not a behavior they can voluntarily opt-out of, even with birth-control or voluntary sterilization.)

And your calling it a "fine" or a "tax" does not make it so....

CBS was reporting it would be legal to charge 50% more for smokers.

I'd be good with that... Pay the price for your choices....

I forgot the smiley face. That was meant as a joke.

Of course smokers pay higher premiums, they should. They're not as healthy (statistically).

But they also tend to die off quicker, saving the system a lot of money because they are not drawing expensive benefits for extended periods of time, so perhaps it is the "healthy" ones who should be paying the higher premium because, ultimately, they are going to end up costing the insurance company more money than the smokers do.