Obesity Blamed For Rising Health Care Cost
Mar 7th, 2008 by shop-universal-best-buy
Obesity Blamed For Rising Health Care Cost
Today, more than half of Americans are either overweight or obese. For many adults and children alike, their waistlines continue to grow while their quality of life and lifespan is declining. Health insurance rates have long been on the upswing. Most analysts blame the increased use of medical services for driving up costs.
So why are we seeing the doctor so much these days? The answer could be: obesity.
While society attempts to define the causes and search for solutions, look at this truly alarming fact. Childhood obesity has increased tremendously over the past decade.
People who are overweight are at an increased risk for diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases. These conditions contribute to greater health care costs. Insurance companies have known that obesity isn’t profitable. So they use strict height and weight tables. When an applicant for health insurance falls out of the normal weight standards, even if otherwise healthy, they may be either denied health insurance coverage or their premiums will be raised.
And compounding to this national problem are the over 40 million individuals who are without medical insurance. Sadly, but the people who need the medical coverage the most are the ones least likely to get it. Regular medical checkups are the most effective means of controlling the factors that lead to overweight, such as poor diet and lack of education regarding health choices. But, since individual health insurance is difficult to obtain for those who are classified as “unhealthy” or “uninsurable” due to their overweight and obese condition, these individuals often don’t get this needed help.
Even those who have access to an employer-sponsored health insurance plan and can not be declined coverage based on their weight (group insurance is basically guaranteed issue health insurance), the increased cost of insuring them is still there, borne not only by them but also by their coworkers.
According to research, health insurance began to get more expensive about the same time that we Americans started getting heavier. It is nearly impossible to determine how much obesity contributes to this increase in healthcare costs.
But look at these facts. When someone is obese, they will generally have more health problems. They will need more medical tests. And they will probably be on more medication than someone who is not overweight. All things considered, this is most likely extra expenses that could have been prevented if that person had lost weight. Research has proven that the obese have more health problems than thinner people. What is strange is that this has still not stopped individuals from putting on the pounds.
Because more than 60% of the American population is currently qualifying as overweight or obese, this national weight problem has now touched us all. If you look at the number of Americans who are obese and combined that with the extra cost required to provide for their health insurance, you can begin to see the dark future of our healthcare system.
Today, it is important for all of us to lead a healthy lifestyle. If you are overweight or obese, losing weight could improve your overall health plus it could save you a significant amount of money on monthly health insurance premiums.
Rudy Wilson is an avid proponent of affordable health insurance and a researcher of guaranteed acceptance health insurance plans. To learn about the guaranteed acceptance health insurance plan that Rudy recommends after extensive research, visit http://www.UninsurableHealthSolution.com now.
Obesity Blamed For Rising Health Care Cost / Author: Rudy Wilson
