Recently the state of Alabama passed legislation that employees have until 2010 to get control of thier waistlines or lose the free health insurance. Everytime I hear stories like this I am torn between being upset and indifferent. On one side I say if I work for you then what I do with my size is none of your business. On the other side since nothing is free if part of the conditions for getting a service at no cost is maintaining a certain weight and be free of health problems then either I do it or pay the fee.
Alabama is giving its employees roughly a year to start getting in shape or state employees will be charged $25 a month for insurance that would otherwise be free. The plan was approved recently by the State Employees’ Insurance Board.
State workers have until January 2010 to get free health screenings. If a problem like high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or obesity is discovered, then they will have a year to join a wellness program, see a doctor at no cost or improve their health on their own to keep the free insurance. However, if at a follow-up screening they have made no progress, they will lose the free insurance starting January 2011.
Before the size acceptance police jump in and say how dare the states step into my life that way blah, blah, blah hear me out. Anytime that we do anything there are stipulations and rules that must be followed in order to get whatever product or service we are interested in. In this case its health insurance. Is it such a bad thing to drop a few pounds, lower my blood pressure, lower my risk for diabetes, and other health related issues in exchange for free helath insurance? With the economy being at an alltime low these days would not saving $300 or more a year for health insurance help out.
Ok now that I have stated a rational arguement about this attempt to control obesity in America let me tell you what I think will happen. Size acceptance champions from all over the country will swoop in and make the state of Alabama look as bad as they made the CDC look a few years ago with the skinny people are more likely to die than fat people.
Should states regulate employee weight? Holywood Squares Answer: If they did then more money can be spent on lights for the annual nativity scene on the capital lawn. Real Answer: No
lose lower belly fat…
Information on this subject is not always as straight forward as it first appears. I know I used to just use a common sense approach, but now I do direct research before coming up with my next move. Keep the information coming….