TOPIC OF THE DAY: Is it fair for insurance companies to charge more for being overweight?

My mother was laid of her job of 17 years earlier this year. Well, her insurance benefits are running out in January, so she is shopping around for private health insurance. She has run into several companies that either flat out denied coverage or are charging higher premiums because she is overweight (5'4" 245 lbs).

Is this fair? 

My insurance at work ( State of GA) charges a tobacco surcharge for smokers. Some co-worker have suggested they should have a surcharge for overweight employees too because that also poses a health risk.

Have you ever been denied insurance coverage or any other service because of your weight?

What is your opinion?

Several years ago, I was doing independent contracting and had to get my own health insurance.  I got a BC/BS plan.  They never said anything about my weight.  At the time, I guessed I was around 300 pounds, and I think that's what I put on the sheet, but looking back now, I was probably more like 350ish.  Anyway, they never said anything about my weight...they had bigger fish to fry with me.  I had to sign a waiver that they would not cover anything lupus related for a period of 4 years.  The premiums started low, but I got raised every 6 months.  Finally, just before they would have started paying for my lupus issues, I got a full-time job with benefits.

Private insurance can do anything they want to do.  I sure hope with the new administration, they fix that to an extent.  Being overweight, they should be able to charge a little more, but not astronomically...and they should guarantee coverage as long as you haven't had a gap in coverage.

As far as employers?  No, they should not be able to assess a surcharge for weight.  If they are going to, then they need to have ALL AVAILABLE resources to help lose the weight.  I.E. If you are going to surcharge for weight, the health plan has to include coverage for medical weight loss methods (like optifast or medifast) and surgical methods and nutritionist consultation, etc.

Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox.  Maybe that's why the State of GA added WLS to some plans this year...maybe next year they are going to start surcharging for weight?????
-Elli

"Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox.  Maybe that's why the State of GA added WLS to some plans this year...maybe next year they are going to start surcharging for weight?????
-Elli"


Hopefully being overweight by the time the next open enrollment occurs won't be an issue for us..  Or we'll be on the losing side anyway..

About the topic question, I was denied by bc/bs individual blue because of my weight and I wanted to add more life ins. through my flex benefits and that was denied too.