The increasing cost of healthcare is
continually in the news today. Frequently, that discussion is turning to the
function of the patient in the cost of their own care.
Medscape recently surveyed more than 21,000 physicians from 25 specialties and asked them: "Should patients who engage in unhealthy behavior pay more for health insurance?" Their findings illustrated the doctor community replied with a booming "Yes!"
The majority of physicians believed that patients who don't follow their advice about losing weight or quitting smoking, or other unhealthy behaviors, should have to pay more for health insurance. The doctors noted that such patients are hence more expensive to insure and present a higher health risk.
Another argument is the fact that a higher insurance premium could inspire patients to change their behavior. Others consider it is an issue of fairness. Patients who do follow doctors' orders and maintain their well-being shouldn’t pay the same rates as people who don't.
Just 15 percent of physicians that replied to the survey opposed using patient behavior to calculate insurance prices. Some said using this approach would penalize patients without resulting in any behavioral change and others didn't want to cast judgment of their patients.
The fact is that health costs are rising and health insurance premiums are rising to cover those costs. Some of the increase is because of the well-being of patients, especially those with long-term conditions for example cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These illnesses are among the most expensive to care for and are often the result of unhealthy behaviors.
The AMA's code of ethics states that some ailments and illnesses can be avoided by a healthy lifestyle and patients "should take personal responsibility when they may be able to avert the development of disease". The AMA further argues that not only should patients share responsibility for their health, but also for the cost of their healthcare.
Learn more about the role that patients play in the cost of health care and insurance, contact us.
Medscape recently surveyed more than 21,000 physicians from 25 specialties and asked them: "Should patients who engage in unhealthy behavior pay more for health insurance?" Their findings illustrated the doctor community replied with a booming "Yes!"
The majority of physicians believed that patients who don't follow their advice about losing weight or quitting smoking, or other unhealthy behaviors, should have to pay more for health insurance. The doctors noted that such patients are hence more expensive to insure and present a higher health risk.
Another argument is the fact that a higher insurance premium could inspire patients to change their behavior. Others consider it is an issue of fairness. Patients who do follow doctors' orders and maintain their well-being shouldn’t pay the same rates as people who don't.
Just 15 percent of physicians that replied to the survey opposed using patient behavior to calculate insurance prices. Some said using this approach would penalize patients without resulting in any behavioral change and others didn't want to cast judgment of their patients.
The fact is that health costs are rising and health insurance premiums are rising to cover those costs. Some of the increase is because of the well-being of patients, especially those with long-term conditions for example cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These illnesses are among the most expensive to care for and are often the result of unhealthy behaviors.
The AMA's code of ethics states that some ailments and illnesses can be avoided by a healthy lifestyle and patients "should take personal responsibility when they may be able to avert the development of disease". The AMA further argues that not only should patients share responsibility for their health, but also for the cost of their healthcare.
Learn more about the role that patients play in the cost of health care and insurance, contact us.
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