NC State Health plan to start giving incentives to non-obese/non-smokers!! (About time!) (Raleigh: health insurance)

[freshjiv]

This has been long past due. Thank goodness. They are being smart about it, as instead of increasing premiums for those who smoke and are obese, instead, incentives of up to a 1/3 off your premium costs are going to be given for teachers/state employees who don't smoke and fit the BMI guidelines. Very smart move on their part, since there really can be no uproar about "having to pay more" since no one will be, only some will get to pay less for being healthy. You have to sign up for voluntary screening for smoking/obesity to get the incentive. Its about time they start doing this with all health insurance. Finally, they get something right! And that woman that is complaining in it is clueless. They ARE giving an incentive, and that is to not smoke and be a healthy weight.

Health plan to begin checking state workers for smoking, obesity :: WRAL.com

[BullCity75]

Actually, you got it completely wrong. The plan is actually to put people who smoke or have BMIs over 40 into the 70/30 plan, which has a lower premium, but has higher copays and deductibles. So yes, the plan will punish those who smoke, have high BMIs, or refuse to submit to documentation.

The WRAL article is incorrect. You can find the actual plan here:

http://www.shpnc.org/comp-wellness.html (broken link)

It will do nothing to save money, but will increase bureaucratic costs.

[Asheville Native]

There will be no savings for anyone in the plan, even for the thin non-smoker they can look for rate increases. Others will be put in a lesser plan and pay even more.

The real question is what politician is WRAL doing a favor for by spreading false information?

[Stripes17]

Oh great. Now our tax dollars will be spent defending the lawsuits from the people being discriminated against by this "pie in the sky" action.

[Asheville Native]

NC healthcare costs are paid by the state, administered by BCBS, a common arrangement for large corporations and state governments.

The only problem is that BCBS is taking 10% off the top for administering the program, and no one in Raleigh has the guts to call them on it.