L.A. County employees charged monthly smoking fee How Much More Abuse Will Smokers Take

SBSUN.com ^ | 29 September 2002 | MICHELLE RESTER

[SheLion]

Smokers just keep on taking the abuse. I can't understand it.

And I am really suspicious about the extra money being milked from the smokers......is it REALLY going into some kind of health fund? Why should the smokers pay for EVERYBODY'S health care? What about the fatty's? Why doesn't the BOSS weigh all the employees, and anyone who is overweight, pay $1.00 per each pound of fat that they are overweight until they lose the blub?

Obesity is costing far more in health care today. Even the Surgeon General has a report out that obesity has passed smoking for health care and disease. So, why aren't the fat people being charged extra money as well?

OBESITY LINKED TO HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND WORSE PHYSICAL QUALITY OF LIFE THAN SMOKING, DRINKING OR POVERTY THREE OF FIVE ADULT AMERICANS ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE

[SheLion]

Smokers are not a financial burden as been implied: Smoking-related healthcare costs are a pittance to overall healthcare costs (8% in my state of Maine). If every smoker quit, healthcare costs would go down only temporarily and then rise above the amount you are complaining about now, because nonsmokers get sick too and for more years.

Smokers more than make up for their extra cost by dying (their choice-not yours) sooner; collecting less social security and pensions, and less time in nursing homes. The state tax on cigarettes is all gravy. This is all backed up by facts.

[cinFLA]

some who do and some who don't cough up the smoker's fee each month.

Interesting choice of words.

[Mo1]

VOTE THE RATS OUT!!

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[Just another Joe]

"It's called a smoker's fee,' said Bill Lynes, the county's head of compensation. "It goes into a fund that helps defray the cost of health insurance for the larger group.'

Number 1 - If I'm paying $120 a year I better be in a private club with smoking privileges.
Number 2 - Do you see where that EXTRA money goes? It's not for the extra costs of the SMOKERS' insurance. It goes to EVERYBODIES insurance.
Someone needs to sue.

[Just another Joe]

Some reporter thinks they're cute.

[lsee]

Hey, SheLion, you've raised an interesting question...and what about those who engaged in risky sex practices? Or who drink to excess? Or misuse drugs? What are they going to charge those who have cancer genes when genetic testing hits its stride? Something needs to be done about the rising cost of health care, but docking a smoker's pay is not the way. I think they're setting themselves up for some interesting legal wrangling in the future.

[Onelifetogive]

So, why aren't the fat people being charged extra money as well?

Because there are more of us! We have political power.

[SheLion]

I am very suspicious about that money going into some kind of "health fund." What does the BOSS do? Send that money on to the insurance company that insures the employee's?

I am very suspicious of this. And like I said: why do the smokers have to contribute to EVERYONE'S health care? What about the FATTY'S?

[verity]

An alternative would be to deprive smokers of all health insurance coverage.:~)

[SheLion]

I think they're setting themselves up for some interesting legal wrangling in the future.

Smokers have been demonized so bad. And the people that have to pay this extra money at work must do so, because they feel "unworthy" and this helps them sleep at night.

They think "Oh! I am a dirty smoker. I NEED to pay extra!" It's all so sick!

[SheLion]

An alternative would be to deprive smokers of all health insurance coverage.:~)

We HAVE our own private health insurance, thank you! No one pays for us. We pay our own way!

[Phantom Lord]

Gay men have shorter life expectency (sp?) than smokers. When will they start charging gay men these expenses, as well as jacking up their insurance premiums because of their dangerous lifestyle?

[verity]

We HAVE our own private health insurance, thank you! No one pays for us. We pay our own way!

This "WE" excludes the County employees. BTW, it is always fun to 'twist' your tail. :~)

[apillar]

I am a non-smoker but I believe that if I ever had the extreme misfortune of working for L.A. I would leave the question blank and write a little note that it is none of their business what LEGAL products I have used or not used in the last 12 months.

[SheLion]

The burden of smokers longterm healthcare costs on our social safety nets is costing me money. That makes it my business.

That old crock has been debunked so many times it's due for an oil change. If that's the only reason you think what others do is any of your business, you'd better start looking for a new hobby.

"The lifetime health cost for a smoking man is $72,700 and $94,700 for a smoking woman. For nonsmokers, the cost is $83,400 for a man; $111,000 for a woman.

"If people stopped smoking today, there would be a savings in health care costs, but only in the short term. Eventually, smoking cessation would lead to increased health care costs." --New England Journal of Medicine,1997;337:1052-7.

[SheLion]

I am a non-smoker but I believe that if I ever had the extreme misfortune of working for L.A. I would leave the question blank and write a little note that it is none of their business what LEGAL products I have used or not used in the last 12 months.

It's coming to that, believe me! Even filling out Health Records at Doctor's offices, people that smoke are starting to not check that. I am so tired of the verbal abuse at the hospitals here. If they know you smoke, they sigh and roll their eyes, and I am just sick of it.

[SheLion]

Gay men have shorter life expectency (sp?) than smokers. When will they start charging gay men these expenses, as well as jacking up their insurance premiums because of their dangerous lifestyle?

The biggest ANTI-Smoker fighting to take away our rights is a Gay Man! Go figure.

[SheLion]

BTW, it is always fun to 'twist' your tail. :~)

Twisting my tail will bring out my CLAWS!

[lsee]

Geez, we all have bad habits that contribute to various health issues, but I haven't had to pay a fee just because I eat Frosted Flakes in the morning instead of granola. I'm not a smoker, but these anti-smoking nazis have gone too far. It is easy to demonize smoking because it is a VISIBLE habit. The more private habits of individuals are less visible and make a harder target. These other private habits contribute as much or more to health issues as smoking, but they are ignored. It would be interesting to trace the money trail for these anti-smoking campaigns and see where they actually originate. Which groups are behind these laws? Who stands to gain? And it isn't the employers. Some would probably say "big Pharm" is the big winner.