Alabama state employees who don't try to lose weight will have to pay part of their health insurance premiums. It may sound heavy-handed, but the workers' lobbying group is not complaining.
By The Associated Press
The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.
Alabama will be the first state to charge its overweight workers who don't try to slim down, while a handful of other states reward employees who adopt healthful behaviors.
Alabama already charges workers who smoke -- and has seen some success in getting them to quit -- but now has turned its attention to a problem that plagues many people in the Deep South: obesity.
The State Employees' Insurance Board earlier this month approved a plan to charge state workers starting in January 2010 if they don't get free health screenings.
If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor at no cost, enroll in a wellness program or take steps on their own to improve their health. If they show progress in a follow-up screening, they won't be charged. But if they don't, they must pay starting in January 2011.
"We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health," said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the insurance board.
Not all state employees see it that way.
"It's terrible," said health department employee Chequla Motley. "Some people come into this world big."
Computer technician Tim Colley already pays $24 a month for being a smoker and doesn't like the idea of another charge.
"It's too Big Brotherish," he said.
The board will apply the obesity charge to anyone with a body mass index of 35 or higher who is not making progress. A person 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 220 pounds, for example, would have a BMI of 35.5. A BMI of 30 is considered the threshold for obesity.
The board has not yet determined how much progress a person would have to show and is uncertain how many people might be affected, because everyone could avoid the charge by working to lose weight.
But that's unlikely. Government statistics show Alabamans have a big weight problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30.3% are now obese, ranking the state behind only Mississippi.
E.K. Daufin of Montgomery, a college professor and founder of Love Your Body, Love Yourself, which holds body acceptance workshops, said the new policy will be stressful for people like her.
"I'm big and beautiful and doing my best to keep my stress levels down so I can stay healthy," Daufin said. "That's big, not lazy, not a glutton and certainly not deserving of the pompous, poisonous disrespect served up daily to those of us with more bounce to the ounce."
A recent study suggested that about half of overweight people and nearly a third of obese people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while about a quarter of people considered to be of normal weight suffer from the ills associated with obesity.
No intent to punish Walter Lindstrom, founder of the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center in California, is concerned that all overweight Alabama employees will get is advice to walk more and to broil their chicken.
"The state will feel good about itself for offering something, and the person of size will end up paying $300 a year for the bad luck of having a chronic disease his/her state-sponsored insurance program failed to cover in an appropriate and meaningful fashion," he said.
William Ashmore, executive director of the State Employees' Insurance Board, said the state will spend an extra $1.6 million next year on screenings and wellness programs but should see significant long-term savings.
Ashmore said research shows someone with a body mass index of 35 to 39 generates $1,748 more in annual medical expenses than someone with a BMI of less than 25, which is considered normal.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a few states offer one-time financial incentives for people pursuing healthy lifestyles. Ohio workers, for instance, get $50 for having health assessments and another $50 for following through with the advice.
Arkansas and Missouri go a step further, offering monthly discounts on premiums for employees who take health risk assessments and participate in wellness programs to reduce obesity, stress and other health problems.
Alabama's new policy is drawing no objection from the lobbying group representing state workers.
Mac McArthur, the executive director of the Alabama State Employees Association, said the plan is not designed to punish employees.
On Fri, 5 Sep 2008, Marnie wrote: > Alabama will be the first state to charge its overweight workers who don't > try to slim down, while a handful of other states reward employees who > adopt healthful behaviors.
In related news, Alabama is working to redo it's image, by adopting a new state motto. Here are the 2 most popular.
Alabama, We hate more then just blacks. Alabama, If they ain't a protected class, it's not bigotry.
> Alabama already charges workers who smoke
That's another problem. Smokers are treated like shit in this nation, and that too has to stop.
> "We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health," > said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the insurance board.
Bullshit you lying sack of shit. You are trying to control people by punishing them. Taking away money from those who don't fit your idea of who they should be and how they should live.
"The Master" <tar...@nospam.sdf.lonestar.org.nospam> wrote in
> Bullshit you lying sack of shit. You are trying to control people by > punishing them. Taking away money from those who don't fit your idea of > who they should be and how they should live.
Does AmeriKa still claim that it is the Land of the Free or is it land of the fee? LOL
Marnie <mar...@deepsouth.com> wrote: > http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourHealth/Alaba... > ObeseWorkersWithFee.aspx > Extra8/26/2008 12:01 AM ET > State to hit obese workers with 'fat fee' > Alabama state employees who don't try to lose weight > will have to pay part of their health insurance premiums.
Great, WAY past time.
> It may sound heavy-handed,
Nope.
> but the workers' lobbying group is not complaining.
Neither would anyone with a clue.
> By The Associated Press > The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start > getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.
They should do that right away.
> Alabama will be the first state to charge its overweight workers > who don't try to slim down, while a handful of other states > reward employees who adopt healthful behaviors. > Alabama already charges workers who smoke -- and has seen some > success in getting them to quit -- but now has turned its attention > to a problem that plagues many people in the Deep South: obesity.
It plagues the entire first and second world and much of the third world too.
> The State Employees' Insurance Board earlier this month approved a > plan to charge state workers starting in January 2010 if they don't > get free health screenings. > If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, > cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a > doctor at no cost, enroll in a wellness program or take steps on > their own to improve their health. If they show progress in a > follow-up screening, they won't be charged. But if they don't, they > must pay starting in January 2011. > "We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their > health," said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the > insurance board. > Not all state employees see it that way. > "It's terrible," said health department employee Chequla Motley. > "Some people come into this world big."
No one comes into the world OBESE, fool.
> Computer technician Tim Colley already pays $24 a month for > being a smoker and doesn't like the idea of another charge. > "It's too Big Brotherish," he said.
Like it or lump it, stupid hippo.
> The board will apply the obesity charge to anyone with a > body mass index of 35 or higher who is not making progress.
They should be slugging anyone with a BMI of 27 or higher, regardless of whether they are making progress or not, because that significantly increases the cost of their health costs.
> A person 5 feet 6 inches tall weighing 220 pounds, for example, would > have a BMI of 35.5. A BMI of 30 is considered the threshold for obesity.
Only in america.
> The board has not yet determined how much progress a person would > have to show and is uncertain how many people might be affected, > because everyone could avoid the charge by working to lose weight. > But that's unlikely. Government statistics show Alabamans have a big > weight problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and > Prevention, 30.3% are now obese, ranking the state behind only Mississippi. > E.K. Daufin of Montgomery, a college professor and founder of > Love Your Body, Love Yourself, which holds body acceptance > workshops, said the new policy will be stressful for people like her.
Like it or lump it, hippo.
> "I'm big and beautiful
Liar. You're obscenely fat and ugly.
> and doing my best to keep my stress levels down so I can stay healthy," Daufin said.
Stupid cow.
> "That's big, not lazy, not a glutton and certainly not deserving of the pompous, > poisonous disrespect served up daily to those of us with more bounce to the ounce."
Stupid cow.
> A recent study suggested that about half of overweight people > and nearly a third of obese people have normal blood pressure > and cholesterol levels,
Irrelevant to their significantly increase health care costs.
> while about a quarter of people considered to be of > normal weight suffer from the ills associated with obesity.
Bare faced lie.
> No intent to punish > Walter Lindstrom, founder of the Obesity Law and Advocacy > Center in California, is concerned that all overweight Alabama > employees will get is advice to walk more and to broil their chicken.
They should be told to stop shovelling as much into their stupid mouths.
> "The state will feel good about itself for offering something, and the > person of size will end up paying $300 a year for the bad luck of > having a chronic disease his/her state-sponsored insurance program > failed to cover in an appropriate and meaningful fashion," he said.
It aint a chronic disease, its just terminal stupidity.
> William Ashmore, executive director of the State Employees' Insurance > Board, said the state will spend an extra $1.6 million next year on screenings > and wellness programs but should see significant long-term savings. > Ashmore said research shows someone with a body mass index of > 35 to 39 generates $1,748 more in annual medical expenses than > someone with a BMI of less than 25, which is considered normal. > According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a few > states offer one-time financial incentives for people pursuing healthy > lifestyles. Ohio workers, for instance, get $50 for having health > assessments and another $50 for following through with the advice.
Makes a hell of a lot more sense to slug the obese what they cost instead.
> Arkansas and Missouri go a step further, offering monthly discounts on > premiums for employees who take health risk assessments and participate > in wellness programs to reduce obesity, stress and other health problems.
Makes a hell of a lot more sense to slug the obese what they cost instead.
> Alabama's new policy is drawing no objection from the lobbying group > representing state workers. > Mac McArthur, the executive director of the Alabama State Employees > Association, said the plan is not designed to punish employees. > "It's a positive," he said.
> Alabama state employees who don't try to lose weight will have to pay part > of their health insurance premiums. It may sound heavy-handed, but the > workers' lobbying group is not complaining.
> By The Associated Press
> The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start > getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is > free.
> Alabama will be the first state to charge its overweight workers who don't > try to slim down, while a handful of other states reward employees who > adopt healthful behaviors.
> Alabama already charges workers who smoke -- and has seen some success in > getting them to quit -- but now has turned its attention to a problem that > plagues many people in the Deep South: obesity.
> The State Employees' Insurance Board earlier this month approved a plan to > charge state workers starting in January 2010 if they don't get free health > screenings.
> If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, > cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor > at no cost, enroll in a wellness program or take steps on their own to > improve their health. If they show progress in a follow-up screening, they > won't be charged. But if they don't, they must pay starting in January > 2011.
> "We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health," > said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the insurance board.
> Not all state employees see it that way.
> "It's terrible," said health department employee Chequla Motley. "Some > people come into this world big."
> Computer technician Tim Colley already pays $24 a month for being a smoker > and doesn't like the idea of another charge.
> "It's too Big Brotherish," he said.
> The board will apply the obesity charge to anyone with a body mass index of > 35 or higher who is not making progress. A person 5 feet 6 inches tall > weighing 220 pounds, for example, would have a BMI of 35.5. A BMI of 30 is > considered the threshold for obesity.
> The board has not yet determined how much progress a person would have to > show and is uncertain how many people might be affected, because everyone > could avoid the charge by working to lose weight.
> But that's unlikely. Government statistics show Alabamans have a big weight > problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30.3% > are now obese, ranking the state behind only Mississippi.
> E.K. Daufin of Montgomery, a college professor and founder of Love Your > Body, Love Yourself, which holds body acceptance workshops, said the new > policy will be stressful for people like her.
> "I'm big and beautiful and doing my best to keep my stress levels down so I > can stay healthy," Daufin said. "That's big, not lazy, not a glutton and > certainly not deserving of the pompous, poisonous disrespect served up > daily to those of us with more bounce to the ounce."
> A recent study suggested that about half of overweight people and nearly a > third of obese people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, > while about a quarter of people considered to be of normal weight suffer > from the ills associated with obesity.
> No intent to punish > Walter Lindstrom, founder of the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center in > California, is concerned that all overweight Alabama employees will get is > advice to walk more and to broil their chicken.
> "The state will feel good about itself for offering something, and the > person of size will end up paying $300 a year for the bad luck of having a > chronic disease his/her state-sponsored insurance program failed to cover > in an appropriate and meaningful fashion," he said.
> William Ashmore, executive director of the State Employees' Insurance > Board, said the state will spend an extra $1.6 million next year on > screenings and wellness programs but should see significant long-term > savings.
> Ashmore said research shows someone with a body mass index of 35 to 39 > generates $1,748 more in annual medical expenses than someone with a BMI of > less than 25, which is considered normal.
> According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a few states > offer one-time financial incentives for people pursuing healthy lifestyles. > Ohio workers, for instance, get $50 for having health assessments and > another $50 for following through with the advice.
> Arkansas and Missouri go a step further, offering monthly discounts on > premiums for employees who take health risk assessments and participate in > wellness programs to reduce obesity, stress and other health problems.
> Alabama's new policy is drawing no objection from the lobbying group > representing state workers.
> Mac McArthur, the executive director of the Alabama State Employees > Association, said the plan is not designed to punish employees.
>>> Does AmeriKa still claim that it is the Land of the Free or is it land >>> of >>> the fee? LOL
>> That's the common lie that the USA likes to say, yes. The sad part is, >> many people still believe it. > America: The Land of The Victim; Because you know, in one way, shape, or > form everyone is victim to something...
yes, and only a government program can save the day, at your expense of course!
> Alabama state employees who don't try to lose weight will have to pay part > of their health insurance premiums. It may sound heavy-handed, but the > workers' lobbying group is not complaining.
> By The Associated Press
> The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start > getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is > free.
> Alabama will be the first state to charge its overweight workers who don't > try to slim down, while a handful of other states reward employees who > adopt healthful behaviors.
> Alabama already charges workers who smoke -- and has seen some success in > getting them to quit -- but now has turned its attention to a problem that > plagues many people in the Deep South: obesity.
> The State Employees' Insurance Board earlier this month approved a plan to > charge state workers starting in January 2010 if they don't get free health > screenings.
> If the screenings turn up serious problems with blood pressure, > cholesterol, glucose or obesity, employees will have a year to see a doctor > at no cost, enroll in a wellness program or take steps on their own to > improve their health. If they show progress in a follow-up screening, they > won't be charged. But if they don't, they must pay starting in January > 2011.
> "We are trying to get individuals to become more aware of their health," > said state worker Robert Wagstaff, who serves on the insurance board.
> Not all state employees see it that way.
> "It's terrible," said health department employee Chequla Motley. "Some > people come into this world big."
> Computer technician Tim Colley already pays $24 a month for being a smoker > and doesn't like the idea of another charge.
> "It's too Big Brotherish," he said.
> The board will apply the obesity charge to anyone with a body mass index of > 35 or higher who is not making progress. A person 5 feet 6 inches tall > weighing 220 pounds, for example, would have a BMI of 35.5. A BMI of 30 is > considered the threshold for obesity.
> The board has not yet determined how much progress a person would have to > show and is uncertain how many people might be affected, because everyone > could avoid the charge by working to lose weight.
> But that's unlikely. Government statistics show Alabamans have a big weight > problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30.3% > are now obese, ranking the state behind only Mississippi.
> E.K. Daufin of Montgomery, a college professor and founder of Love Your > Body, Love Yourself, which holds body acceptance workshops, said the new > policy will be stressful for people like her.
> "I'm big and beautiful and doing my best to keep my stress levels down so I > can stay healthy," Daufin said. "That's big, not lazy, not a glutton and > certainly not deserving of the pompous, poisonous disrespect served up > daily to those of us with more bounce to the ounce."
> A recent study suggested that about half of overweight people and nearly a > third of obese people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, > while about a quarter of people considered to be of normal weight suffer > from the ills associated with obesity.
> No intent to punish > Walter Lindstrom, founder of the Obesity Law and Advocacy Center in > California, is concerned that all overweight Alabama employees will get is > advice to walk more and to broil their chicken.
> "The state will feel good about itself for offering something, and the > person of size will end up paying $300 a year for the bad luck of having a > chronic disease his/her state-sponsored insurance program failed to cover > in an appropriate and meaningful fashion," he said.
> William Ashmore, executive director of the State Employees' Insurance > Board, said the state will spend an extra $1.6 million next year on > screenings and wellness programs but should see significant long-term > savings.
> Ashmore said research shows someone with a body mass index of 35 to 39 > generates $1,748 more in annual medical expenses than someone with a BMI of > less than 25, which is considered normal.
> According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a few states > offer one-time financial incentives for people pursuing healthy lifestyles. > Ohio workers, for instance, get $50 for having health assessments and > another $50 for following through with the advice.
> Arkansas and Missouri go a step further, offering monthly discounts on > premiums for employees who take health risk assessments and participate in > wellness programs to reduce obesity, stress and other health problems.
> Alabama's new policy is drawing no objection from the lobbying group > representing state workers.
> Mac McArthur, the executive director of the Alabama State Employees > Association, said the plan is not designed to punish employees.
> "It's a positive," he said.
maybe the state shouls offer to pay for gastric bypass, lapband and gym memberships too then . jenius
