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I was pretty boggled by this post on Shakesville about a health insurance plan that makes enrollees with BMIs over 30 either accept substandard coverage or enroll in a "weight management plan", which boils down to: go to Weight Watchers or wear a pedometer and take a certain minimum number of steps per 3 month period.
I went and did a search for the health plan site, and, of course, they spin it all as providing incentives for healthy behavior and allowing people to qualify for "enhanced coverage." Which did give me a moment's pause, because, hey, I love the idea of incentives for healthy behaviors.
Except, whoops, a BMI is not a behavior. Why not give everyone rewards for wearing a pedometer or eating their veggies?
Also, while incentives are cool, materially impacting people's ability to afford basic healthcare is not so cool. Even if you smoke and live on Ding Dongs and whiskey, I want you to be able to afford to go to the doctor.
I went and did a search for the health plan site, and, of course, they spin it all as providing incentives for healthy behavior and allowing people to qualify for "enhanced coverage." Which did give me a moment's pause, because, hey, I love the idea of incentives for healthy behaviors.
Except, whoops, a BMI is not a behavior. Why not give everyone rewards for wearing a pedometer or eating their veggies?
Also, while incentives are cool, materially impacting people's ability to afford basic healthcare is not so cool. Even if you smoke and live on Ding Dongs and whiskey, I want you to be able to afford to go to the doctor.
