A new Wall Street Journal poll found that the majority of Americans think that people who follow unhealthy lifestyles should pay more for their health insurance. A clear majority (63 percent) say they think smokers should pay higher premiums, deductibles, co payments. About the same number (57 percent), think people who drink heavily should pay higher rates. Tellingly however, not as many people (30 percent) think the same penalties should apply to people with weight problems or those who fail to exercise regularly. The poll comes at a time when some health plans are experimenting with programs that reward participants for leading healthier lifestyles.
- see this article from the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)