Posted on 02/16/2006 4:58:38 PM PST by LouAvul
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) -- Smokers squeezed by soaring cigarette costs and workplace smoking bans are increasingly being hit with another cost increase -- this time for health insurance.
A growing number of private and public employers are requiring employees who use tobacco to pay higher premiums, hoping that will motivate more of them to stop smoking and lower health care costs for the companies and their workers.
Meijer Inc., Gannett Co., American Financial Group Inc., PepsiCo Inc. and Northwest Airlines are among the companies already charging or planning to charge smokers higher premiums. The amounts range from about $20 to $50 a month.
"With health care costs increasing by double digits in the last few years, employers are desperate to rein in costs to themselves and their employees," said Linda Cushman, senior health care strategist with Hewitt Associates, a human resources consulting and services firm.
She said the practice of smoker surcharges is becoming such a significant trend that this year, it will be part of Hewitt's annual survey of companies' current and future health care plans.
Cushman said a general benefits survey of 950 U.S.-based employers last year showed that at least 41 percent used some form of financial incentives or penalties in their health care plans.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Curious.
This is merely another Nazi tax on the one group everyone knows they can pick on and raid their wallets.
Don't they ralize that by dying younger the smokers are saving them costs in the long run?
This skinny smoker/drinker opposed it........
I would think not, elkfersupper.
Skydivers, motorcyclists, skiers, nymphomaniacs and butt pirates are AOK by our politically correct, shakin-in-their-boots, chickin-sh#t, corporate citizens.
And speaking of your name, have you tried buffalo steak for supper?
The steak is a little pricey, but the ground is very good.
I buy it in 4-lb. packages at Keller's in Albuquerque. Recommend it to anybody, but do it in the form of hamburgers on the grill.
May I recommend that you raid your wife's purse, buy a couple of buffalo steaks, marinade same for 48 hours, and slow bake the steaks for 35 minutes or so.
YUMMY!!!
Now I've gotten me hungry. Time to go see Mr. Refrigerator.
Wow, that will really prompt a lot of people to quit. That's about the price of a carton of cigarettes. I don't get it. Let's ban smoking and give drug addicts their fix. If they want to lower health costs, why don't they get rid of lawyers like John Edwards?
"I may be all wet, but I think genetics are the chief factor in longevity. If both of your parents died young, your chances are that you might too. I think the inverse tends to hold true also."
You're perfectly dry and probably on to something. I remember reading about a government funded study done at one of the Eastern elite universities years ago. They were able to determine that, in fact, parenthood itself was hereditary, citing the fact that if your parents did not have children chances were great that you would not either.
Isn't free spending big government great?
What about people who practice an immoral life style.
At least homosexuals should have to pay higher premiums to help defer the costs of aids.
As to the marinade, I knew that would be necessary. The ground is 20% beef suet - not much fat on that critter.
Will do. Thanks for the tip.
Stinker!
Well, I'd recommend Annie Oakley as possible wife material, but you're born about a century too late.
I don't know any buffalo shooting women, but I know a few women who love eating buffalo steaks.
Gues that's the next frontier for us men - take your gal out buffalo shooting with the Sharps rifle. :-)
"...parenthood itself was hereditary, citing the fact that if your parents did not have children chances were great that you would not either."
?????? If your parents did not have children, you would not exist. Am I missing something in this statement???
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