Returning to a recent theme...

[wshaffer]

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.

Comments

[inflectionpoint.livejournal.com]

I am sad to hear that.

BMI is bunk, and if I gain a little more muscle, I'll hit 30. Grrrr.

I still remember being at a health fair and being told I needed to lose 20 lbs of fat by their calculation. That would put me at a % bodyfat I haven't been at since high school.

Grrrr...

[wshaffer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my BMI currently fluctuates just around the 30 threshold. Were I on this health insurance plan, I'd be going nuts, because whether I'd need to jump through hoops to keep my benefits could hinge on my level of hydration on the day I was weighed.