Smokers Continue to Cost All of Us More Than All Of Obamacare

valuewalk ^ | July 29, 2017 | JOHN F. BANZHAF

[Drango]

Most of this alarming cost is now being borne by nonsmoking taxpayers in the form of higher taxes (to pay for Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs) as well as ever-escalating health-care costs (in the form of higher premiums, changing deductibles, etc.)....the fifteen percent of the adult population which impose an unnecessary $322 billion dollar a year cost on all taxpayers,

[Drango]

The Congressional Budget Office has recommended an increase of fifty cents per pack

YES!

[vooch]

The obvious solution is to let the free market do its magic.

Allow insurance companies to charge different rates and offer different benefits for smokers versus non-smokers.

When a smoker has to pay 5 times more for health insurance versus a non-smoker, that might change behavior quicker than any gov’t “plan”

[sargon]

Actual Freedom incurs numerous challenging "burdens" on society. Motor vehicles killed as many as 40,000 people last years, with over 4-1/2 million seriously injured. Many of those deaths were due to alcohol impairment. Many more deaths each year result from alcohol-related violence.

But none of that means that we should criminalize cars or alcohol.

I hate cigarette smoke, but there's something I hate much more: nanny-state government that attempts to tell people how much nicotine they can have in their cigarettes.

With all due respect to "big government" nanny-staters—and that's the only kind there are—f-ck that sh-t...

[indthkr]

"offer different benefits for smokers versus non-smokers."

I'm sure the Left will insist that marijuana smokers receive a special exemption from smoker vs. non-smoker differentiation.

[thoughtomator]

The level of arrogance inherent in this approach is off the charts.

[KC_Conspirator]

Does anyone remember the Tobacco Lawsuit by democrats in the 90s by the Klinton administration? It was supposed to fund health care for a life time, especially for the children. It almost made it an obligation to smoke because it FUNDED healthcare.

Or maybe it was all just a lie.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

What to do when all of these people quit smoking and paying all those taxes?!!! Unintended consequences....

PS: I quit seven years ago! No more cigarette tax money from me.

[Drango]

When a smoker has to pay 5 times more for health insurance versus a non-smoker, that might change behavior quicker than any gov’t “plan”

True dat. But many poor people DON'T pay for their medical care. They mooch off medicaid. But the iron law of supply and demand will work.

[Hojczyk]

How about smoking pot..these people are fools...To me tobacco is better than pot...some pot users go on to other drugs..

If you smoke what ever or drink whatever..it is your business

but I should not have to pay for your problems..

Send the dam healthcare back to the states..

[Road Warrior ‘04]

The Congressional Budget Office has recommended an increase of fifty cents per site visited on the internet! An additional fifty cents per word typed on the internet!

YES!

[Nifster]

This is government overreach and intrusion. It is a short step until they start telling you what food you can eat

This is nuts

[TangoLimaSierra]

Less nicotine. So 1 pack a day smokers go to 2 or 3 packs per day. Brilliant.

[I cannot think of a name]

Unmentioned in the article but noteworthy:

-The number of teenage girls that have taken up smoking, not because the like it, but because it helps them stay thin!

- The number of women that have children as a profit center (ie - welfare) that take up smoking because of all the government advertisement that says smoking will cause them to “have smaller babies.” Extensively studied in England and reported on by the English media. Completely silent in the US media. I am shocked, shocked I tell you.

[Nifster]

And when the FDA tells you what you can eat....sugar and salt or red meat etc etc.....will you be as happy?

This is government overreach

[Nifster]

Precisely

[uncbob]

They die younger so they don’t deplete social security

[dila813]

It would have never happened in the first place if we ever had a free market.

Smokers live shorter lives, I can’t believe their costs are higher.

The entire premise of this study is all health care spending for smokers would be saved.

[Nifster]

When they, the FDA, won’t allow you to buy certain foods or drinks will you be as happy.

I doubt it. This is communism in its rankest form. You don’t live liberty

[CivilWarBrewing]

"They die younger so they don’t deplete social security"

Bingo! Shocking how many anti-smokers here on FR.. HAVE ANOTHER DRINK, FREEPERS! Alcohol, booze, brews, hard liquor.. Drink all you want and die young, it's all cigarettes' fault.