South Carolina lawmakers have delayed voting on whether to charge obese public employees higher premiums in the state health insurance plan.
A Senate Finance subcommittee delayed its vote Tuesday. Republican Sen. Greg Ryberg of Aiken said he would be willing to rewrite his bill as a way to reward healthy residents rather than punish overweight workers.
Ryberg said he hopes to have it back on the agenda within a month.
Ryberg said too many residents are overeating and not exercising. He said their deliberate decisions not to take care of themselves are costing the state. He said he wants to motivate people to live healthier.
Senators agreed with the bill's intent but said it would be difficult to enforce.
| Original Article: Posted Tuesday February 10th at 6:00 am |
Obese public employees would have to pay an extra $25 monthly for their state health insurance under a bill up for debate in South Carolina.
The measure sponsored by GOP Sen. Greg Ryberg of Aiken is on the agenda Tuesday in a Senate subcommittee. It would tie the surcharge to employees' body-mass index, a weight and height measurement. A BMI of 30 is considered obese. According to a spokesperson for Sen. Ryberg, state employees' health insurance does not cover preventive measures such as gym memberships and nutrition plans.
The proposal follows a vote last August to increase health insurance premiums of public workers who smoke. The smoking surcharge is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2010. It was approved by a five-member board that oversees the state budget.
Smokers called it an unfair increase, since smoking isn't the only bad habit that increases health care costs.
South Carolina has among the nation's highest rates of obesity and diabetes.
If you would like to read the bill for yourself, click the following link: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/109.htm
If you would like to find out your BMI, click this link: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm
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