According to a new survey from The Vitality Group, most Americans – 82%, think that they are responsible for their health.
They also agree that lifestyle choices, like smoking, over-eating and under-exercising, have a direct impact on the health and health care costs.
However, nearly half of Americans – 44%, believe they should not have to pay for their health care.
What?
Am I missing something here?
How can 82% of people claim responsibility for their health while at the same time expecting someone else to pay when something goes wrong.
That just sounds wrong; and I am from Canada, the land of socialized medicine.
What’s Behind the Numbers?
When I first read this story, I was blown away by the hypocrisy.
And then I looked a little closer.
Vitality Group is the health promotion branch of Discovery Holdings Ltd. And according to Google Finance:
Discovery Holdings Limited
| 155 West Street PO Box 786722 Sandton, 2146 South Africa +27-11-5292888 (Phone) +27-11-5392958 (Fax) |
Company website: https://www.discovery.co.za News Releases, Investor Relations, Financial Information, Corporate History/Profile, Executives, Employment Opportunities |
.
So, can anyone think of a reason why an insurance company would encourage an employer to set up a health promotion / disease prevention program for it’s employees.
Hmmmmm
How about reducing claims and increasing profits.
My two cents
Okay, so we have two sides to this story.
On one side, we have an American (obviously, not just the U.S.A. – I see lots of fat Canucks every day) public that doesn’t want to actually take responsibility for it’s increase in obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Wrong, so wrong.
On the other side, we have an insurance industry that is using guilt along with the economic pressure of America’s employers to increase their own profits.
Even wronger.
But looking at this mess, I can’t help but think:
What happens if because of this initiative, America’s employees become fit and healthy?
Does that mean that these two wrongs actually make a right?
Here is the original article with all of the details.
.
If you like what you see here, click here for updates or Share this Post with the rest of the world.
Thanks in Advance.
Popularity: 1% [?]
