Posted on 04/11/2025 9:48:37 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked whether society should pay for the health care of Americans who eat doughnuts or smoke when they know those habits can contribute to poor health outcomes. “If you’re smoking three packs of cigarettes a day, should you expect society to pay when you get sick?” the nation’s top health official asked in an interview released Wednesday with CBS News chief medical correspondent, physician Jon LaPook.
Kennedy went on to say that it is an American’s choice to “eat doughnuts all day” or drink sodas, and he promised not to take those choices away. “But in terms of, should you then expect society to care for you when you predictably get very sick at the same level as somebody who was born with a congenital illness?” he asked. “The best answer to that is to realign our incentives so that the economic incentives, the individuals and the industry align with the public health outcomes that we desire.”
Public health experts were alarmed by Kennedy’s remarks, saying they suggest that Kennedy may limit access to health care based on personal behavior. They also come as potential cuts to insurance for low-income Americans, Medicaid, loom amid a push for deep budget reductions in Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I just ate half of a really good chocolate donut .
Going to eat a spinach salad shortly.
Where does that put me?
________________________________________
You’re good. Me too. I ate a salad for dinner last night. At Jason’s Deli. 2 salads in fact.
Loaded with cheese, dressing and other goodies that probably exceeded 2,000 calories, but still....
Salad, baby!
Well, since taxes alter behavior, how about just taxing the crap out of everything indicative of unhealthy behavior? Cigs, sugar, processed foods, condoms, Vegas... then put the tax aside to take care of related medical problems.
Can’t see anything wrong with that! lol
A while back I was going to a customer’s shop to do some product training. They told me they like donuts. I stopped at a bakery and bought a dozen absolutely awesome looking donuts.
I’d also recently begun desugaring my lifestyle. I gave a two hour training class with some of those donuts on the table in front of me and I resisted. Yes, I resisted.
I’ve had one donut in the last two years.
And why should anyone pay for yours?
Someone has to pay them. And someone does. We all do. Either taxpayer dollars, or through private funds paid into your healthcare policy at work... society is losing money because of fat cigarette smokers.
Unless of course you're a billionaire and can self insure.
And where do the funds for all the other risky behaviors out there come from? |
From me, of course. Via private insurance. Either a personal health plan or group insurance, rates are set by the average. And smokers cost more than healthy people do.
Why is the federal government paying for anyone’s healthcare, with the exception of veterans?
An average? You mean like, some are more expensive than others?
Smoking is not the only risky behavior with a possible expensive health impact.
If you prefer a chinese social credit system that’s your prerogative I guess.
BTEW, do smokers that don’t get sick get any kind of refund?
“eat doughnuts all day” — defund the police
Society is losing money due to socialist ideas like having government pay for health care.
And society suffers even more when you have chinese-style social credit policies.
Unless, of course, you’re in the favored class.
So no mention of ‘risky sexual behavior’... or ‘inappropriate surgery choices’?
Doughnuts???... oh man!!!!We get the best glazed doughnuts on the planet from Duchess Bakery in Cullman AL. Don’t eat them often, but they are great!!!
I recall the Czech Republic found smoking reduced national healthcare costs...
I AGREE FULLY
ALCOHOL IS ANOTHER PROBLEM-— AND DRUGS
Sure...and while we are at it, let’s cut off health insurance for...
Hard drugs users (Meth, Cocaine, Heroin, etc.)
Motorcycle riders
Skydivers
Bull riders
Alcoholics
Speeders
Sexually promiscuous people
You know...anyone who takes health risks...
“Public health experts were alarmed by Kennedy’s remarks, saying they suggest that Kennedy may limit access to health care based on personal behavior.”
People are limiting (at times this includes myself) their access to optimal health by their personal behavior. That is their choice. That is part of being in a free society. But other people find themselves facing serious illness despite making the right choices to stay healthy.
Making the same health care spending available without regard to the cause of illness is making the wrong thing easy and the right thing difficult. That is not a smart choice for the economy or the individual.
Maybe these experts should suggest that auto insurance be the same rate for everyone no matter their driving record.
Craving the other half of that doughnut?
“ Craving the other half of that doughnut?”
No, it was at work and that’s all there was.
But I did eat the 3 Oreos I brought!
If you pay for the insurance yes.
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