Alabama to Charge Obese State Employees More

Alabama state employees suffering from obesity and three other health problems will eventually have to pay extra for their health insurance if they don’t try to control their problems.

The State Employees’ Insurance Board has approved a plan that will charge state workers an extra $25 per month, starting January 2010, if they don’t have a free health screening. If the screening turns up no problems, they don’t have to pay the $25 in the future.

If the screening turns up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, then employees will have one year to see a doctor, enroll in a wellness program or take other steps to improve their health. If they do, they won’t have to pay the $25 monthly. But if they don’t, they will have to pay the $25 per month starting in January 2011.

Latest Comments

• September 8, 2008 at 3:33 am

  O B says:

  Blacks are more prone to high blood pressure,why don't they charge them for that. Whites are more likely to get skin cancer, how about a charge for that too.
• August 26, 2008 at 2:08 am

  KLS says:

  Tall people knock their heads on low-hanging things and cost more due to higher frequency of injuries. They must be surcharged. Fair skinned people sunburn more easily, so the... read more
• August 25, 2008 at 11:49 am

  This is Ridiculous says:

  Conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol have been linked to genetics so now companies are going to be allowed to charge these people more who did not get to pick t... read more