Health insurance technology provider eHealth recently released data on the impacts smoking and weight have on health insurance rates as an addendum to the company's 2011 Cost and Benefits report.
More than 229,000 policies purchased by adults who gave both their height and weight during the application were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), following a formula published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employers have been wrestling with the effect of weight, smoking and other factors on healthcare costs, since they can contribute to chronic conditions and drive up long-term employee benefit costs.
"We've known for a long time that smoking and obesity can have an impact on overall health and longevity," said eHealth chief executive officer Gary Lauer. "Now, thanks to the data eHealth is releasing, we can put a dollar figure on what it costs Americans today in terms of higher health insurance premiums in the individual market. We feel that this data can provide further incentive to any individual trying to tackle these important health issues."
Smokers' premiums were 14 percent higher on average, $207 compared to the $181 average for non-smokers. Particularly high and low body masses also meant increased costs, with adults who qualified as obese typically paying 22.6 percent more in premiums than those with a healthier BMI. Underweight men paid an average of about 10 percent more than those with "normal" weight, while the obese paid up to 30 percent more.
