Ethics Newsline®

Drop in Public Support of Higher Healthcare Costs for Smokers, Obese

Nov 5th, 2007 • Posted in: Research Report

From the Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive:

“A new Wall Street Journal Online/Harris Interactive Healthcare Poll finds a substantial decrease from 2006 in those who support asking people with unhealthy lifestyles to pay more for healthcare. This latest poll shows thirty-seven percent of U.S. adults think it is fair that those with unhealthy lifestyles pay higher insurance premiums than those with healthy lifestyles, compared to a majority (53%) who felt that way just about a year ago (July 2006). Similarly, one-third (35%) say it is fair for those with unhealthy lifestyles to pay higher deductibles or co-payments for their medical care, compared to half (53%) in 2006….

“Overall, males (51%) are stronger proponents of increased healthcare costs than are females (32%). ‘Fairness’ appears to be a key concept for those who agree that people with unhealthy lifestyles should pay more — it is their choice to live that way, so others should not have to pay for it (80%) and they tend to incur more medical costs than those who live a healthy lifestyle (82%). Many also believe that higher costs could encourage people to live healthier lifestyles, which would be better for society overall (75%).

“When it comes to two main components of an ‘unhealthy lifestyle’ — namely smoking and obesity — the public tends to take a stronger stance against smoking. A clear majority (57%) favors higher health insurance costs for smokers, while only a third (36%) favors the same for those who are overweight….

“There is almost no public support for employers having the right to fire employees for smoking (7%) or being seriously overweight (4%). About one third agree that they should be able to require employees to attend smoking cessation (29%) or weight loss (30%) programs, but most adults believe employers should not have the right to take any of these actions….

“Katherine Binns, Division President for Healthcare Research at Harris Interactive, comments, ‘…Companies are instituting wellness programs which involve health-risk assessments and fitness coaches, but should remember that obese people, whose healthcare is among the costliest, are protected by federal law.’…”

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