Editorials

By nearly every measure, Alabamians are not a very healthy bunch. The state's residents eat too much (and eat the wrong stuff), smoke too much, and don't exercise as they should. Which is why when Alabamians reach their golden years — if they do — they often complain that "if I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."

However, as far as most are concerned, it's personal business whether or not you take care of yourself. In reality, though, it isn't. Ill health in Alabama costs
taxpayers millions in lost production, subsidized health care and higher insurance rates.

There are ways to solve this problem.

Just as automobile insurance companies give safe drivers cheap premiums — or charge unsafe drivers more, depending on the viewpoint — health insurance companies can (and do) routinely deny policies to people whose lifestyle puts them at risk. All of which saves the companies money.

Thus, it follows that if Alabama is subsidizing health insurance for employees who do not take care of their health, it would save the state (and the taxpayer) money to charge the employee more for the "privilege" of being unhealthy.

Alabama already does this with employees who smoke; currently, smoking employees pay a $24 monthly surcharge. Now the state is about to require the same of obese employees, as well as those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high glucose.

The State Employees' Insurance Board recently voted that starting in January 2010, employees who do not get free health screenings will have to pay a $25-a-month fee. Although the screenings will cost the board some $1.6 million, savings in the long run will make it worthwhile — if the next step is carried out.

Once screened and assessed, employees will be told what to do to avoid the $25-a-month fee in 2011. The goal will be to reduce body mass, which can lower blood pressure and reduce the chance of stroke or diabetes.

Just what is an acceptable body mass has yet to be determined. (For what it's worth, program directors say that employees who are obese with a body mass index of 35 to 39 cause $1,748 more annually in medical expenses than employees with a body mass of 25 or less.)

But Alabamians who want an idea of what it might be should click on the Internet to www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ and see which category they are in. Other goals and thresholds also must also be agreed upon.

This is a step in the right direction. Offering state employees financial incentives to get healthier will be good for the individual and will help reduce the cost of health care to taxpayers.

It's a win/win situation all around.