Should people pay a higher health insurance premium - Research Paper Example

? Should People who Choose to live an Unhealthy Lifestyle Pay a higher health insurance premium? of A healthy lifestyle can be attained by any person regardless of their race, ethnicity or current health problems. If given a choice, many people chose not to live a healthy lifestyle. Many people feel that to live healthy is too expensive, takes too much time and does not provide them with many incentives. This paper examines the idea that those people who choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle should pay higher insurance premiums than those who do not. In this way, those who live a healthier lifestyle would be rewarded by paying lower premiums for their positive choices. There is controversy about this issue and many people think that it is unethical to make people who are unhealthy pay more for their health insurance. This issue is also discussed. Should People who Choose to Live an Unhealthy Lifestyle and Who Have Private Insurance, Pay a Higher Health Insurance Premium? An unhealthy lifestyle creates health problems for every individual who refuses to live in a healthy way. A study by an epidemiologist at Michigan State University in 2005 found that out of 153,000 in the study only three percent were living a healthy lifestyle (Jedgtvig, 2012) which was defined as someone who exercises regularly, does not smoke and who eats fruits and vegetables everyday. When people do not live a healthy lifestyle, they are more prone to illness and society must spend more money on treating these illnesses (Jedgtvig, 2012). One of the challenges to living a healthy lifestyle is that Americans are inundated with advertising in the media that tells them to eat fast food, drink alcohol and smoke (Pelican and VandenHeede, 2008). Most people are listening to this information and they choose to do the things that this advertising suggests. More and more, the American lifestyle is changing to the point that Americans put themselves at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes (Mendoza, 2009). Living an unhealthy lifestyle does not only create new or increased health problems for the individual, this type of lifestyle is costly. In one report, “smoking habits and obesity related to bad eating habits may be costing Americans $100 billion to $150 billion per year” (Mendoza, para. 6). Nothing seems to stop Americans for indulging in an unhealthy lifestyle and healthcare companies are driven to increase premiums across the board. When looking at the cost of care and the fact, that many Americans do not seem to care whether they are healthy or not, it seems that people who choose an unhealthy lifestyle, and who have private insurance, should pay a higher premium than those who are choosing a healthy lifestyle. Definition of an Unhealthy Lifestyle Experts would agree that living an unhealthy lifestyle can cause many more problems for an individual. In defining an unhealthy lifestyle, all definitions point to the state of ill health. A specific definition is “not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind” (Thesaurus, 2012). When an individual is living an unhealthy lifestyle, it affects every aspect of their lives. As an example, the autopsy after the recent death of Whitney Houston showed that she had cocaine and other drugs in her system. She was living a lifestyle that showed her as having emotional problems that made her turn to cocaine for relief. She was living an unhealthy lifestyle that not only affected the way she approached the world, but also affected her family after her death. Many people turn to drugs and alcohol and they say they cannot stop using. These people are prone to have other diseases that come from their continued used of these drugs. With help, many people are able to stop using drugs or alcohol so there is really no excuse for someone to choose this unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity is on the Rise Other Americans choose to eat the foods that will increase cholesterol and move them towards problems with heart disease, obesity and other ailments. As an example, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 33% of Americans are obese and another 5.7% are extremely obese (Ogden and Carroll, 2010). Trust for America’s Health (2012) states that “adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year.. (para. 1) and there were no decreases in any states. This means that people in America are gaining weight and getting fatter because of the poor lifestyle that they are living. As obesity has risen, the rates for heart disease, diabetes, and other aliments associated with obesity rise (Trust for America’s Health, 2012). Much of the problem is that not only are people choosing not to eat well, but they are also choosing to be less active than they were 20 years ago (Trust for America’s Health, 2012). Shute (2011) reports that Americans are getting fatter and if they continue at the rate they are now, the country will be one of the fattest in the nation. According to Shute (2011), 83 percent of men and 72 percent of women are expected to be overweight by 2020. Part of the problem according to Shute (2011) is that many doctors do not discuss weight with their patients, and many patients will stop going to their doctors if they feel the doctor will only talk to them about losing weight. However, people do not seem to know what they should do to lose weight or keep it off. Although there are many resources to help people live healthier, it can take increased effort from the individual and many people do not want to take the time and energy to increase their health. Healthcare Costs and Disability The cost of living an unhealthy lifestyle can also create chronic conditions that turn into disabilities. When this happens, many people are unable to work and they must depend on the government to provide them with living expenses and healthcare. In a study by Anderson, Wiener, Finkelstein and Armour (2011) some of the chronic situations that can become debilitating are defined as “spinal cord injury, intellectual and developmental disorders, arthritis, coronary artery disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes” (p. 230). Some of these issues are not avoidable but some of them are linked to living unhealthy lifestyles. It is more costly to treat people with disabilities. According to Anderson et al. (2011) the amount of money that it takes to treat someone with a chronic condition is five times more than the amount it takes to treat someone who is healthy. Because most people on disability are also treated by Medicare or Medicaid, the proportion of money spent through the federal government is also high. Part of the reason that people with disabilities are more costly is because they use the services of healthcare more often than those who are healthy. Also, people with disabilities usually have more than one condition that has created their disability which also will raise their cost of care and are more often to need long-term care (Anderson, Wiener, Finkelstein & Armour, 2011). Although many people with disabilities deserve the care that they receive, many of the conditions that some people with disabilities are living with could have been avoided if they learned to live a healthier lifestyle. Although there are many programs that promote a healthier lifestyle, some people reject these programs and create more problems for themselves. As an example, in most communities, there are several ways that people can stop smoking. There are programs that create opportunities for people to stop and doctors have prescribed a variety of ways that people could stop smoking. Even though there are laws in some states that say that people can no longer smoke in public spaces, many people still continue to smoke. As an example, a study by Hojgaard, Olsen, Pisinger, Tonnesen, and Gyrd-Hansen (2011) showed that in Denmark, bans on smoking in public places showed that more people stopped smoking than smoking cessation programs, but in America, people still continue to smoke. Medical research shows that smoking can lead to chronic problems like emphysema or cancer. Why Many People Choose an Unhealthy Lifestyle As stated previously, healthcare is costing consumers billions of dollars per year. Many people may think that since most Americans live an unhealthy lifestyle, that this is a more positive thing to do. The media from television and radio to the Internet, newspapers and more, show that living a healthy lifestyle is not important. There are fast food places on just about every corner. These fast food places advertise and make people feel that they need to buy the most delicious burger in town. The media is constantly working to make people feel insecure about their bodies and the images that they portray on television suggest that everyone should be rail thin (Pelican and VandenHeed , 2008). With all of these ads, the average American must do something drastic to understand what it is they need to do to live a healthier lifestyle. The challenge is that there is more information readily available to be unhealthy than information to be healthy. Sadly, many Americans find that it takes more effort to be healthy. They must figure out an exercise plan that fits into their daily routine, they must stop bad habits like smoking, and they must rearrange their days so that they can find healthier foods to eat. The average American is too busy to concentrate on just one area and they often do not do anything different until they have a life threatening situation happen. A life threatening event like getting cancer or diabetes can cause many people to think that they should change the way they are living, but many people continue to ignore their health in favor of eating whatever they want, when they want. Speechly, Bridges-Webb, McKenzie, Surynski and Lucas (2010) state that there are many people who continue an unhealthy lifestyle after they find they have coronary heart disease. In fact, many continue to smoke, some will do only a portion of what is required for a healthy lifestyle, while still others will only change their lifestyle in ways that do not help them create systematic behavior change (Speechly, Bridges-Webb, McKenzie, Surynski & Lucas, 2010) Private Insurance Costs and Unhealthy Lifestyle Buchanan (2011) states that people who choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle should pay higher insurance premiums. Generally, health care costs are already high because of those people who live an unhealthy lifestyle. The more they engage in an unhealthy lifestyle (e.g. drinking, smoking, risky behaviors, and drugs), the higher the cost of their healthcare will climb. Many people who live an unhealthy lifestyle have private insurance that is supposed to cover them no matter what type of lifestyle they are living. As an example, employers must have a health plan in place for their companies that insure that all people are paying the same premium regardless of their health choices (Buchanan, 2011). The problem with this type of system is that those people who live unhealthy lifestyles are driving the premiums up for those people who choose to live a healthier lifestyle (Buchanan, 2011). Some people question whether having different premiums for different people is ethical. According to Buchanan (2011) the choice is ethical based in there areas. When people are encouraged to live a healthier lifestyle, they decrease suffering from a disease and they stay involved with their families and their communities. Although many people feel that people should have a choice to live the way they want, this researcher supports Buchanan’s (2011) view because it seems that some people do not have the ability to make the choice to live in a healthy way. Because of this, they should pay a higher premium than those who make a healthy choice. Buchanan (2011) also states that since it generally costs more to treat people who are obese, who smoke, and who do drugs, which they should pay more for their coverage. Dubois (2011) states that healthcare is already higher in the United States than in Europe. However, people in the United States should be given the right to have insurance no matter what their current health issues, according to Dubois (2011). To make people who have unhealthy habits pay more premiums would be unethical. Dubois (2011) also points out that deciding how much control people have over their unhealthy habits is something to consider. This is impossible to consider, but deciding whether the individual should be held accountable for their actions is more realistic (Dubois, 2011). Another issue in this situation is how to determine whether people actually have control over their health issues or whether there are situations that are beyond their control that prohibit them from having the opportunity to live healthier lifestyles (Dubois, 2011). These issues present a more difficult scenario because when dealing with human behavior, researchers find it difficult to make decisions based on the needs of all people. The bottom line for this issue is that if people are going to continue ignoring their health, they should have to pay higher premiums so that those people who care about their health can have lower premiums. What It Means To Live A Healthier Lifestyle Most Americans know that to live a health lifestyle means that they must eat healthy foods, exercise, and stay away from smoking and alcohol. For many Americans, this means a drastic change in lifestyle and behavior change. They must understand that living a healthy lifestyle is a long-term choice and by making this choice, they will live longer (Kushner and Choi, 2010). According to Chen and Huffman (2011) there are many factors that go into living a healthy lifestyle beyond eating healthy and exercising. Many people understand that doing exercise is important to healthy lifestyle but Chen and Huffman (2011) found through their study that only “moderate and vigorous physical activity” (p. 371) insures weight loss. Also, people must read food labels to make sure that the snacks and other foods they purchase are low in sugar and salt. Thomas (2009) adds to this discussion by stating that “wellness is an interactive process of becoming aware of and practicing healthy choices to create a balanced lifestyle” (p. G 1). In order to have a high level of wellness, each individual must feel well physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, environmentally and spiritually (p. G 1). To feel well physically, an individual must eat healthy, nutritious foods and exercise regularly. Emotionally, an individual must carry an attitude that supports them rather than one that hinders their progress. As an example, an individual who carries a negative attitude will bring negative situations to them. However, an individual who learns to have a positive attitude will have a more joy filled life (Thomas, 2009). Exercising the brain will help people stay intellectually healthy and social health has to do with helping others and finding a way to partake in social situations that are fun and enjoyable. Environmental health has more to do with how a person sees their home environment than anything outside the home. Having a place to live that is comfortable and well maintained helps the individual find peace (Thomas, 2009). These issues are important to a person’s wellbeing and they all contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Everyone has the ability to choose how they will live and what they will do on a day to day basis. Some people will choose the healthy lifestyle while others will choose to misuse their body and live an unhealthy lifestyle. If they are going to ignore the indications that are present that help an individual change their lifestyle, they should suffer the consequences of having their premiums changed to reflect their lifestyle. Conclusion There are many challenges to a healthy lifestyle but many people choose to experience it. At any given time, people are becoming more active and they are staying healthy well into old age. Electronic and print media give information on a consistent basis about how to live a better lifestyle. There are programs to stop smoking, there are a variety of exercise programs in every community and there are ways that people can start to become more active if they have been sedentary for most of their lives. Many people have learned that eating a more healthy diet and staying healthy helps them become a stronger person in body, mind and spirit. Others continue to live a lifestyle that creates chronic disease and many health problems. In order to stop the rising healthcare costs, those people who live a healthy lifestyle should be rewarded and those who choose not to should have to pay higher insurance premiums. References Anderson, W. L., Wiener, J. M., Finkelstein, E. A., and Armour, B. S. (2011). Estimates of national health care expenditures associated with disability, Journal of Disability Policy Studies , 21(4), 230-240. doi: 10.1177/1044207310391407 Buchanan, D. R. (2011). Should people with unhealthy lifestyles pay higher health insurance premiums? Journal of Primary Prevention, 32(1), 17-21. doi:10.1007/s10935-011-0235-y Chen, Y., & Huffman, W. E. (2011). Reading food labels, food prices, and adult lifestyle choices: regular physical activity and healthy weight. American Journal Of Agricultural Economics, 93(2), 370-377. Dubois, M. (2011). Response to "should people with unhealthy lifestyles pay higher health insurance premiums?". Journal of Primary Prevention, 32(1), 23-7. doi:10.1007/s10935-011-0236-x Hojgaard, B., Olsen, K. R., Pisinger, C., Tonnesen, H. and Gyrd-Hansen, D. (2011). The potential of smoking cessation programmes and a smoking ban in public places: Comparing gain in life expectancy and cost effectiveness. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 39 (785). doi: 10.1177/1403494811421416 Jedgtvig, S. (2012, February 16). Americans are not living a healthy lifestyle. About.com. Retrieved from http://nutrition.about.com/od/researchstudies/a/unhealthy_ams.htm Kushner, R., & Choi, S. (2010). Prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle patterns among overweight and obese adults. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 18(6), 1160-1167. Mendoza, A. (2009, July 2). Staggering health care costs due to unhealthy lifestyle pose major threat to U.S. economy. 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NPR’s Health Blog. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/11/16/142414818/americans-are-fat-and-expected-to-get-much-fatter Speechly, C., Bridges-Webb, C., McKenzie, S., Zurynski, Y., & Lucas, A. (2010). Patient and general practitioner attitudes to healthy lifestyle behaviours and medication following coronary heart disease: an exploratory study. Australian Journal Of Primary Health, 16(2), 154-158. Thesaurus. (2012). Unhealthy definition. The Free Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/unhealthy Thomas, K. (2009, Jun 07). Balanced lifestyle, healthy choices affect wellness as we age. The Times - Tribune, G.1. http://search.proquest.com/docview/275583727?accountid=35812 Trust for America’s Health. (2012). F as in fat: How obesity threatens America’s future 2011. Retrieved from http://www.healthyamericans.org/report/88/ Read More