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Am I Too Fat For Health Insurance?
fatmanunleashed.com — Guy gets turned down for health insurance due to his BMI?
niz85- 399 diggs
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- martalli, on 12/12/2007, -3/+22The insurance companies are simply looking for a reason to deny coverage. When you consider their point of view, obesity is a pretty good reason. Of course, while that person is denied coverage, he is still paying taxes for Medicaid and Medicare so that others can have free or reduced cost healthcare.
- ontain, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4maybe it's time for tax paying americans to use emergency rooms for service (with no id) much like mister Bush suggested.
- OrangeTide, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1We already do. you get service, but you have to wait around 6-10 hours already.
- bitt3n, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4not good enough. mow my lawn for 6-10 hours. then I will pay for the doc to fix that gunshot wound.
- MWeather, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3I only waited 20 minutes to get my fingertip sewn back on. But I went in the morning.
By the way, don't use a knife to pry apart frozen breakfast burritos.- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2At least you cut off your fingertip during non-peak hours. That could have been a disaster.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I hear friday nights are a good time to visit
- martalli, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1That's when the gun and knife clubs meet.
- OrangeTide, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1We already do. you get service, but you have to wait around 6-10 hours already.
- acdcfanbill, on 12/12/2007, -3/+20Its the perfect business model, don't give insurance to anyone who would ever use it!
- zydeco, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4It's a perfect business model to not sell something at a loss.
- MWeather, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2They didn't offer him coverage with higher premiums, so your point is moot.
- martalli, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1The risk involved is probably difficult to calculate. Offer insurance for $500/month, or $2000/month? If the insurance company cannot accurately calculate the cost, they could either enrage people with $2000+/month quotes (for individual coverage), or simply deny coverage.
- MWeather, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2They didn't offer him coverage with higher premiums, so your point is moot.
- zydeco, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4It's a perfect business model to not sell something at a loss.
- z0l0pht, on 12/12/2007, -3/+5Fat people are a huge (no pun intended) financial risk to an insurance company. Like any other company, they are going to look out for their own best interest. Insuring someone who is apt to have a heart attack at any time is just a stupid business decision. Yes, it is discriminatory, but it's still America, and we're still capitalists. If you want health insurance, move to Canada (where, ironically, there aren't nearly as many fatasses).
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2_IF_ you want health insurance?
- z0l0pht, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3We're talking about America here
- fafaforza, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1BMI is NOT an indication of how healthy or fat you are. Do the research on it, please. It came out of Europe. Some economist or statistician cam up with this simple formula for purposes completely unrelated to any health field or research.
BMI tells you nthing of anyone's health, although you could use it to study broad trends between populations with sample sizes in the thousands. The government should step in and deny an insurer using BMI to evaluate someone's health. If insurance ocmpanies were interested in measuring your health, they'd rely on measuring your skin's thickness or send you to a professional for an evaluation.
It's amazing that BMI is accepted as a medical diagnosis when it is the farthest thing from it.- martalli, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3BMI = the square root of (mass in kg / height in meters squared). Sure a muscle man has a high BMI, but don't you think that a BMI of more than 30 or 40 in the average person probably indicates a person is obese? It is certainly a good guideline. BTW, a five foot six inch person weighing 223 pounds would have a BMI of 36. See:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tb ... - redfox2600, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Please proof read your comments. Or at the very least click on the spell check button. Also the BMI formula is similar to the density equation. Mass/Volume (They just assume you're a cube). So a higher number means the more space you are taking up horizontally. Sure a muscle man would have more mass too but come on this is America.
- martalli, on 12/13/2007, -0/+3BMI = the square root of (mass in kg / height in meters squared). Sure a muscle man has a high BMI, but don't you think that a BMI of more than 30 or 40 in the average person probably indicates a person is obese? It is certainly a good guideline. BTW, a five foot six inch person weighing 223 pounds would have a BMI of 36. See:
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2_IF_ you want health insurance?
- MacSuxWindozSux, on 12/12/2007, -2/+5I see what you did. You took a reasonable argument (obesity good reason to deny coverage) and used it to attack socialized medicine (the style of coverage used by virtually ever other modern country).
Other countries don't have huge problems with their healthcare.
So paying a tax or two can have some big rewards.
This guy gets sick and he dies under this system. The only reason service is so quick is because so many people are flat out denied even minimal service.
- ontain, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4maybe it's time for tax paying americans to use emergency rooms for service (with no id) much like mister Bush suggested.
- chrystie69, on 12/12/2007, -4/+22Great then I'm screwed...twice cause I know my BMI is gonna be too high then and I live in Massachusetts where as of January 1st health insurance is Mandatory for all residents!!
- arghargh, on 12/12/2007, -13/+52God forbid you do something like lose weight.
- ontain, on 12/12/2007, -3/+5but then he wouldn't need health insurance as much.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Everyone needs health insurance. Unless you want to just count on bankruptcy as a way out
- OrangeTide, on 12/12/2007, -4/+19BMI is a bad metric. perhaps he's a weight lifter? BMI only works if you're of "average build". And weight beyond an average amount of muscle+organs+bones is assumed to be fat.
- arghargh, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2He is a weight lifter, but I somehow I doubt that chrystie69 is. I am using the reply feature.
- spamcrusher, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5If turned down for BMI reasons, you can appeal the decision and usually the insurance company will offer an in person physical. If your % body fat is within normal ranges, then the insurance company will ignore the BMI reading and treat you normally.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1Oh great. More red tape and expensive bureaucracy .
- Urusai, on 12/12/2007, -3/+9So the government gets to dictate a person's lifestyle? Congratulations, fascist, your dreams have come true!
- TommyTSquared, on 12/12/2007, -3/+3You're an idiot. The government isn't saying you HAVE to be something. These companies are just saying that if you're too much of a lazy bastard to try and keep yourself somewhat healthy then why should we be responsible for covering costs that were caused by your laziness. Now don't get my wrong, I know some people are genetically disposed to being big, but that's not to say you can't be healthy.
As far as the situation with mandatory health insurance, I have no comment. - theonlywizdum, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1you aren't paying for jack, dumbass. We still have to pay for our own coverage, unless we get government assistance.
- TommyTSquared, on 12/12/2007, -3/+3You're an idiot. The government isn't saying you HAVE to be something. These companies are just saying that if you're too much of a lazy bastard to try and keep yourself somewhat healthy then why should we be responsible for covering costs that were caused by your laziness. Now don't get my wrong, I know some people are genetically disposed to being big, but that's not to say you can't be healthy.
- ontain, on 12/12/2007, -3/+5but then he wouldn't need health insurance as much.
- DeFex, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5if its mandatory for all residents does that mean the ones who cant afford it will go to jail? thats win win for the health companies and the prison industry.
- citizen782, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5No, the way the law is written it just means you won't be able to get a job or be legally employed. Still a win for insurance who I'm certain lobbied this as a "solution".
- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Good idea, if you can't afford health insurance, you should obviously be working a high-risk off the books job.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2A job where... you might be guaranteed health insurance?
- citizen782, on 12/12/2007, -0/+5No, the way the law is written it just means you won't be able to get a job or be legally employed. Still a win for insurance who I'm certain lobbied this as a "solution".
- citizen782, on 12/12/2007, -2/+13It ain't no excuse for being fat but - mandatory insurance laws are *****. The very reason I abandoned any thought of voting for Hillary. Just a big corporate win for the insurance industry. Now that you MUST buy there product there will be no end to what you are charged. And the financial aid - will all go to illegal immigrants and folks making less than $10 per hour. The middle class is screwed by these laws. Before anyone says it, competition among insurance carriers WILL NOT reduce the rates.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Like mandatory car insurance?
- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah, how are all those high risk cars supposed to maintain their livelihood?
- citizen782, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1Last time I checked it wasn't illegal for me to work without car insurance.
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Like mandatory car insurance?
- kaplanfx, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1This guy's BMI is off the charts too: http://imagesforum.doctissimo.fr/mesimages/996054/ ...
- j0ker666, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2In the health company's eyes, he is one fat bastard.....
- frosted, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0I can't wait to see how this goes, what are you going to do if you make minimum wage? HA!
- arghargh, on 12/12/2007, -13/+52God forbid you do something like lose weight.
- somespecial, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7Some car insurance companies even deny coverage to high-risk. Different carriers have, um, different business models. Maybe try another carrier?
- kiiwii, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Maybe try this business model?
http://the-op.com/media/image2.php?cid=161&i=1565& ... - MattB123, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7This is why health insurance companies should not be private for-profit companies.
It's in their best interest to deny coverage or deny claims whenever it could cost them anything.
It seems to me their main objective should be healthy people and not maximized profit.- MWeather, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2As much as I hate socialization, you're right. A government account invested in stocks and bonds can't be any worse than a for-profit insurance company investing in stocks and bonds. It should be voluntary, though.
- gnilrets, on 12/12/2007, -1/+3If you remove the profit from insurance companies, then there will no longer be insurance companies! Guess what happens then when you get in a car wreck? You have to cover all of the expense. Yeah, that'd be a great system!
Oh, and if you think the government can provide a better not-for-profit health insurance system, just look at the bureaucratic waste that is medicare, medicaid, and social security (to name a few).
I don't understand why people think health care is some kind of right. You are not entitled to the productive effort of another human being through anything but a voluntary agreement made by both parties.- BlackBob, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1"I don't understand why people think health care is some kind of right. You are not entitled to the productive effort of another human being through anything but a voluntary agreement made by both parties."
I hate to be the one to have to tell you this, but by being a member of a society you ARE obligated to contribute a portion of your productive effort for the good of society as a whole. If this were not the case, many of the achievements that have been made throughout history would never have been possible. You may not take advantage of every benefit provided by this type of system, but that doesn't remove your responsibility of supporting it. Your compensation (other than just being a decent person that is contributing to make life better for everyone, not just yourself) is in the benefits that you do take advantage of.
In the US, there is enough wealth that health care most definitely should be some kind of right. This model where the only people who can have health care are the ones that health insurance companies can make a profit on is totally screwed up and we should be ashamed to have it.- gnilrets, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1What I meant by my entitlement statement was that nobody has a right to use the threat of violence to force someone to do something they don't want to do voluntarily. This includes the government requiring doctors to treat patients whom they do not wish to treat. Granted, doctors should be compassionate and try to help everyone they can (even those who cannot afford to pay as much as others), but to force them to do so would be a gross violation of their liberty.
- MattB123, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2I see it more as a social responsibility of a modern society than an individual right (although I wouldn't disagree with it becoming a right). Look at almost any other Western developed nation. If they can do it, why can't we?
I also think that if we had universal healthcare (which could be voluntary) that focused on preventative maintenance, it would cost less in the long run anyway. It's typically way less expensive to prevent diseases than to treat them.
- BlackBob, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1"I don't understand why people think health care is some kind of right. You are not entitled to the productive effort of another human being through anything but a voluntary agreement made by both parties."
- InfiniteNothing, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2Driving is a privilege. Health insurance should not be just for the rich and healthy
- momomathew, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I am not rich, but I have good health insurance. Mainly due to me going to college using student loans and working hard to put me in a postion to get a job at a good company that does offer good health insurance.
- kiiwii, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Maybe try this business model?
- tripm, on 12/12/2007, -2/+10Yes, I'll bet you are.
- republicker, on 12/12/2007, -4/+2I dont know. How much do you weigh?
- Dakart, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2RTFA.
- PropCulture, on 12/12/2007, -2/+3Probably.
- orlyfactor, on 12/12/2007, -1/+15You're not fat, you're big boned.
- IglooBurner, on 12/12/2007, -4/+1i donno about u but i've never met a fat skeleton.
- lydecker, on 12/12/2007, -1/+6You've met a lot of skeletons, have you? (walks away slowly)
- knde, on 12/12/2007, -3/+4A bit off topic, but I’m becoming rather frustrated with misuse of the word “curvy”
These days, it seems every other overweight-to-fat-to-obese woman, wants to label herself “curvy” There is an immense difference between being curvy and being fat. Kate Winslet is curvy, Beyonce is curvy, and America Ferrera is curvy.
If you are above a US 14 or UK 16, you aren’t curvy. You are fat! Stop deluding yourself and get on a treadmill. Now I don’t say this to be a bitch, I just think encouraging such “overly positive body imagery” prevents some women from actually tackling their weight/health problems. It’s as bad as the “Even losers are winners!” approach in my opinion.- IglooBurner, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0haha ur rite. there's a line between curvy and fat and i believe it applies to skinny as well... i'd say beyonce is a bit on the skinny side... just a tad... i'd say curvy would be more like mariah and jlo. but its just me.
- MicheleFloyd, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1knde, I agree with you for the most part, though I understand why fat is often described as curvy. It used to be socially acceptable to ridicule overweight people by family, friend or foe, to the point where they believed themselves that *they* were despicable, instead of being guilty of one bad trait. Oprah and the rest turned the tables to try to give people a chance to believe being fat is unhealthy, usually unattractive and best avoided, but not the be all end all of their existence.
- onestarleft, on 12/12/2007, -2/+1Don't worry, you don't sound like a bitch.
You sound like an ex-fat chick.- knde, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2As opposed to sounding like a female who'd rather more females live healthier lives???
Fat...yeah that'll be the day. I unfortunately have the opposite problem. It's very difficult for me to gain weight and I've had a few health scares from being underweight.
http://digg.com/health/Weight_gain_ad_in_1934_for_ ...
- knde, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2As opposed to sounding like a female who'd rather more females live healthier lives???
- mark_in_bc, on 12/14/2007, -0/+1Must have a really big bone in his ass.
- IglooBurner, on 12/12/2007, -4/+1i donno about u but i've never met a fat skeleton.
- scronline, on 12/12/2007, -5/+37I hate to say this and I know it's sounds... just wrong. but seriously, why should a health insurance company cover someone that is KNOWINGLY and WILLINGLY making themselves less healthy than a SMOKER who smokes over a pack a day? Don't get me wrong, I HATE the way insurance companies operate, it's a complete rip-off and I don't believe any insurance company should be allowed to be a "for profit" company but that's another topic of discussion.
Seriously, just being overweight is becoming a problem in this country due to our eating habits and life styles. It's proven than being overweight to the point of obese is more damaging to your body than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Funny enough, quitting smoking is easier to do than losing weight too so ... yeah, I can understand it.- citizen782, on 12/12/2007, -1/+4I'll give you a digg to zero you out BUT, it's not health insurance companies that should be NFP, it's the Health Care Corporations who charge $65+ per syringe and $700 per night for a couple of nurses visits and should not be making public health decisions based upon profit margins for their share holders. This is THE reason why the health care system is broken. Doesn't mean socialized medicine - it means NFP helath care operations or price controls. This does not equate to socialized medicine.
- catalysis, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2 Where do you think countries with universal healthcare get medical devices like syringes from?
- citizen782, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1From the same distributors our hospital gets them from. At 2.95 each. That's about a 2200% markup at $65 retail.
- catalysis, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2 Where do you think countries with universal healthcare get medical devices like syringes from?
- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -3/+2Proven? By who?
- zdislaw, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2By companies that make weight loss drugs! Duh.
- Xsecrets, on 12/12/2007, -2/+3I don't know who you think you're fooling, but It is MUCH easier to loose weight than it is to quit smoking. I smoke and I'm a bit overweight, I've seriously tried to quit smoking and haven't been able to as yet. I've lost 10 pounds during one of my moves just because I was up off my fat ass for a couple of days.
- theonlywizdum, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0fyi, your weight doesn't stay constant, you could have lost weight simply because you had 5 less glasses of water that week.
- war6986, on 12/13/2007, -1/+0lets see you keep it off fatass
- citizen782, on 12/12/2007, -1/+4I'll give you a digg to zero you out BUT, it's not health insurance companies that should be NFP, it's the Health Care Corporations who charge $65+ per syringe and $700 per night for a couple of nurses visits and should not be making public health decisions based upon profit margins for their share holders. This is THE reason why the health care system is broken. Doesn't mean socialized medicine - it means NFP helath care operations or price controls. This does not equate to socialized medicine.
- ravamp3, on 12/12/2007, -3/+5pwnt.
- OrangeTide, on 12/12/2007, -10/+1"I knew what it was about and liked his last movie about 911,"
"I must say, watching this movie made me want to move out of the country (since there is no universal health care here in the US of A)."
Fine, then hit the road jack! and quit your bitching if you think living in the US is so terrible and do something about it.- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Flawed logic: If all the people who want change actually just upped and left, nothing would ever happen and you'd be stuck with whatever the ***** situation was which caused people to leave in the first place.
- shaftbond, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Actually, you have flawed logic. You are assuming that all people that want change would up and leave. He is just telling those that "want" to move out of the country to do so. The rest of us that want change and are willing to stay can still try and fix the situation.
- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3Flawed logic: If all the people who want change actually just upped and left, nothing would ever happen and you'd be stuck with whatever the ***** situation was which caused people to leave in the first place.
- Alphapsi12, on 12/12/2007, -8/+8Well this might be a pitch in the dark but have you ever thought about losing weight? Turned down becuase of your BMI, lose weight problem solved, you are more healthy, "look" better, and technically live longer.
- IglooBurner, on 12/12/2007, -4/+0ha! u submiteded 2 minutes before i did... guess we're on the same page eh
- xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -3/+7Easier said than done, Some people have very slow metabolisms and working out 4 days a week and not eating mcdonalds sometimes isn't enough for people... Of course these people are actually healthy but by BMI standards they are not...
It takes a major life change for some people to lose weight including working out twice a day, Completely changing your diet, and cutting out Drinking alchohol...
I'm not talking about the people who are 400 lb's and eating mcdonalds three times a day, I'm talking about the guys who are 250 lbs, yet still fit and as a result have a BMI that is morbedly obese when in some cases the %fat on these guys could be less then someone that is in the slightly obese range...- Alphapsi12, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0I understand that not everyone are the same, but take a step back and look around you and you tell me how many people are overweight to obese. I don't hate or discriminate against someone based upon their physical apperance as long as they are not walking around eating 10 pounds of fast food and saying I can't seem to lose weight and blame it on their job or hormone problems and weighing 300+ pounds. I'm lucky enough that I've carried my college wrestling work out after my wrestling days are over and work out 5 days a week. Slow metabolism could be changed with regular eating diets (4-5 small meals a day), working out on a routine, cutting out alcohol, and less TV time. I'll be glad to repost a comment from my wife who is a MD doctor after I get home from work. When you say 250 pounds, I need a height reference because a 5'2" 250 is a big difference froma 6'2" 250.
- xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I don't live in the states therefore looking around reveals a bunch of skinny people, And I was basically referring to myself, Im 250lbs 6'0' I work out 4 times a week Running for half an hour at 6mph for 30 mins twice and biking high intensity for 40 twice and I lift wieghts for about half an hour each day... This is on top of rugby practices and games when it is the season.. I do pack considerable muscle, but I will be the first to admit Im not skinny person... but I am definitly healthy and it bugs me that if I decided to move to the states due to my BMI i wouldnt be aloud healthcare I count my calories and limit myself to under 1000 a day sun-thurs and under 2000 on fri/sat I have been doing this for 2 months now, but have always been one to work out at least twice a week yet in the past 2 months Ive lost a whole 4 pounds... I just get a little pissed off when people say hey your BMI is to high, simple solution, lose wieght fatty
- Ineedanap, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2Im calling shenanigans. There is simply no way you can work out THAT much and eat that little and not loose weight. Perhaps your body is in starvation mode, you should eat FAR more calories a day than that. 1000 a day is barely enough for a woman at 5'5" let alone a man of 6' with as much muscle as you claim. With that exercise routine you should be taking in closer to 3500 a day, if not more.
- xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I should be I joined a site www.fitday.com and according to that my metabolic system should be burning 3300 calroies after inputing all my calories and checking the weekly status Im incredibly under, maybe im an exception I thought that was just normal... I also though because maybe I have an office job and sit on my ass all day that the 3300 was a farce and it was more like 2000, So thats why I was aiming for 1000.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+21000 is not a way to lose fat. It will kick your body into starvation mode. Seriously up your calories I bet you will lose far more weight in one month than you could in 10 doing what you are now.
- momomathew, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2If you want to lose weight, try eating more smaller meals each day, usually 4-6. This will keep your metabolism going. Also try lifting weights more than a half hour a day. Putting on more muscle will also increase your metabolism. Dieting by starvation is not dieting.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1With that lifestyle you should actually be eating quite a bit more. probably 3K everyday. You have kicked your body into starvation mode so it will literally cling to all the fat it can because it expects worse times ahead. It is quite well documented, eating more with lots of activity will result in more weight loss than eating less and lots of activity.
- xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I will look into this, thank you.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0I am trying to find some articles on that topic. But I would definitely go higher than 1000 a day. But it does sound like you could handle it physically, check out HIIT
High intensity interval training. Very effective (and difficult) but i doubt that would be a problem given your activity level. - xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Actually the biking I do is high intensity interval training and I love it, would do it everyday if I could.
- Alphapsi12, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0I understand that not everyone are the same, but take a step back and look around you and you tell me how many people are overweight to obese. I don't hate or discriminate against someone based upon their physical apperance as long as they are not walking around eating 10 pounds of fast food and saying I can't seem to lose weight and blame it on their job or hormone problems and weighing 300+ pounds. I'm lucky enough that I've carried my college wrestling work out after my wrestling days are over and work out 5 days a week. Slow metabolism could be changed with regular eating diets (4-5 small meals a day), working out on a routine, cutting out alcohol, and less TV time. I'll be glad to repost a comment from my wife who is a MD doctor after I get home from work. When you say 250 pounds, I need a height reference because a 5'2" 250 is a big difference froma 6'2" 250.
- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -2/+4Have you ever thought about loosing your head? Cut it off, you might actually "look" better.
RTFA.- Alphapsi12, on 12/12/2007, -4/+0Well no I haven't thought about cutting my head off, but thank you for asking. Did it hit a soft spot? Are you a fat ass who's feelings got hurt from my comment?
- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4No, just annoyed that you neglected to read the ***** article.
- Alphapsi12, on 12/12/2007, -4/+0Well no I haven't thought about cutting my head off, but thank you for asking. Did it hit a soft spot? Are you a fat ass who's feelings got hurt from my comment?
- mikemil828, on 12/12/2007, -1/+3Two things: 1. BMI was created by an 19th Century Mathematician to tie body statistics to sociology, it was never meant to be used as a tool to tell people how much they should actually weight. and 2. Most NFL players would be considered overweight or obese by BMI despite being in pretty good shape.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Most people are not NFL players.
It is a fine indicator for most people- mikemil828, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1That is just an simple example so that diggers such as yourself can grasp the concept, any person relatively athletic could be considered obsese by BMI, which ruins it's use as a measure of health
- Tweekster, on 12/13/2007, -0/+0too bad the average american doesnt qualify as athletic. I know i qualify as obese on the BMI, i know it is flawed in my case. however, i am an excpetion, not the rule. for the general public it works quite well
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Most people are not NFL players.
- Kannebas, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Just like Damien Nash. Oh, wait...
- Crimsoneer, on 12/12/2007, -8/+2If your fat enough that its a risk to your health, yes you are. Nobody's going to pay you for no reason.
- TheMachine1, on 12/12/2007, -5/+0Could be worst a skinny man denied sex. :(
- Sevzi, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2What does this have to do with health insurance?
- TheMachine1, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Not sure but there are assigned risk insurance pools(controlled by the government) that
guarantee everyone can buy insurance. Granted a high risk person will pay very high premiums $1000+ a month.
- TheMachine1, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Not sure but there are assigned risk insurance pools(controlled by the government) that
- Sevzi, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2What does this have to do with health insurance?
- Dakart, on 12/12/2007, -1/+10The answer: Yes...
- Rikushix, on 12/12/2007, -1/+3The insurance system is economically unfair relative to other methods of business operation in our world, but that's just how it operates. Period. If you're fat, that's your own problem. You pose a significantly higher risk of costing them money.
Of course, you could just move on up here to Canada. The whale blubber diet won't do wonders for your complexion though.- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0Private business refusing to do business with people it chooses (with in the ADA and other laws regarding race?)
Yeah that really sucks
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0Private business refusing to do business with people it chooses (with in the ADA and other laws regarding race?)
- gharding, on 12/12/2007, -7/+11Solution: Lose weight.
- Lumbage, on 12/12/2007, -1/+15The Body Mass Index is absolutely flawed as it doesn't take body fat % into the equation, but in most cases, assuming that the subject isn't a bodybuilder, it is fairly accurate.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0As long as there is a process for reviewing disputed BMIs it is a good quick indicator to start with. Most people wont have a leg to stand on that would try and dispute it though
- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3It's just an index people. The BMI is supposed to be easy to use, not a overall health indicator.
It doesn't matter if you're not technically obese either; being over a normal weight for your height will cause extra strains on your health. Someone who weighs 250 pounds is more likely to break a joint or bone than someone who weighs 180 pounds. Even being well built with all your weight in muscle mass will put a higher strain on your cardiovascular system. Eating more than average to maintain a higher than normal weight will put additional strains on your digestive system.
There's more than just natural risks with being overweight. People who are obese are much more likely to get Diabetes, and slightly more likely to get other diseases.
- merrickx, on 12/12/2007, -2/+3Yes.
- spamcrusher, on 12/12/2007, -2/+17This is nothing new, two years ago I was turned down for having a high BMI. I lost weight, one year later the same company accepted me and I have full health insurance I'm paying out of pocket for, and it's really cheap. BMI is to health insurance as speeding tickets are to auto insurance. In 95% of all cases, BMI can be controlled and a high BMI is the fault of the person, just like speeding tickets can be controlled and there is nobody to blame but the driver. With a high BMI comes a greater risk for health problems like diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular / metabolic problems.
If auto insurance companies were not careful on who they picked, you would be paying a lot more for your auto insurance. Health insurance is expensive, but if they were not careful on who they picked then the cost would be just that much higher. In most cases, depending on the fattie's BMI, then there are higher cost insurance plans that would accept him. He should consider shopping around. - schnikies79, on 12/12/2007, -2/+8I don't have a total problem with this, but I do have a problem with using BMI. I was pretty bulked a couple years ago and my BMI stated that I was overweight yet my body fat was 7.5% according to a dunk test.
I've lost some of my bulk since i'm back into running more than lifting, so it's not an issue anymore. Why can't they go with body fat precentage? Even a caliper test is easy to do.- spamcrusher, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7Because BMI is a very cheap and easy test, and I'm guessing over 90% of those who have a high BMI are because they are obese, and not because they are weight lifters. I stated this earlier, a high BMI reading is just one of the many things insurance companies look at to judge applicants. If you register a high BMI and it is because of muscle and not fat, then you can appeal the insurance company's decision and they will just ensure you are not obese and ignore the reading.
- schnikies79, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2Good point.
- schnikies79, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2Good point.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I dont think the BMI should be the final say. I think if you take issue with it , you should be allowed a doctor visit to determine, if it turns out the BMI was right, you pay for the visit, if it turns out the BMI was wrong, it is covered.
It is accurate for most though, so its a good cheap indicator..to START with atleast.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I dont think the BMI should be the final say. I think if you take issue with it , you should be allowed a doctor visit to determine, if it turns out the BMI was right, you pay for the visit, if it turns out the BMI was wrong, it is covered.
- spamcrusher, on 12/12/2007, -1/+7Because BMI is a very cheap and easy test, and I'm guessing over 90% of those who have a high BMI are because they are obese, and not because they are weight lifters. I stated this earlier, a high BMI reading is just one of the many things insurance companies look at to judge applicants. If you register a high BMI and it is because of muscle and not fat, then you can appeal the insurance company's decision and they will just ensure you are not obese and ignore the reading.
- jaydedragon, on 12/12/2007, -1/+6BMI is not indicative of being obese or unhealthy.... every single football player and hockey player is over the standard BMI... but they are healthy.. health is not indiciative of being thin.. taken from the National Heart and Lung institute..
"
Part 1: Assessing Your Risk
According to the NHLBI guidelines, assessment of overweight involves using three key measures:
* body mass index (BMI)
* waist circumference, and
* risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity.
The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height and waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases.
What is Your Risk?
1. Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a reliable indicator of total body fat, which is related to the risk of disease and death. The score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are:
* It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
* It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass."
so using a bmi to conclusively determine wether a person is fat or not.. or is healthy or not.. is not applicable- blesbok, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Good thing that most insurance companies don't. Most at least take a waist measurement along with BMI. With that measurement you can get a much better idea of how fat someone is or if they are just muscular.
This article is as biased as a Michael Moore movie. - Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0exceptions to the rule withstanding, the BMI is a decent indicator for the average person. your average person is not a linebacker or a hockey player
- jaydedragon, on 12/28/2007, -0/+1i have to say no... i think the military standards are reliable... they DON'T use bmi ... neck + wrist + forearm + waist then there's some formula .. then a pinch test as well.... that is something i would accept
- blesbok, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Good thing that most insurance companies don't. Most at least take a waist measurement along with BMI. With that measurement you can get a much better idea of how fat someone is or if they are just muscular.
- HotBaconSauce, on 12/12/2007, -4/+630 minutes 3x a week exercise + low calorie diet = prob solved! Plus you will get more chicks!
- gnorb, on 12/12/2007, -2/+2Wow. Just... wow. Seriously, your ignorance is nothing short of stunning.
Of course, this is coming from someone called "HotBaconSauce" so maybe that says something. - Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0Actually if you exercise you will easilly need more than 2K calories a day and be quite healthy.
- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+12000 calories is low for fat people.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1That is true, but someone above was saying they went to an extreme calorie restricted diet of 1000 calories a day. That is not good for fat loss either.
It seems a lot of people go to the extreme, from very high to very low
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1That is true, but someone above was saying they went to an extreme calorie restricted diet of 1000 calories a day. That is not good for fat loss either.
- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+12000 calories is low for fat people.
- gnorb, on 12/12/2007, -2/+2Wow. Just... wow. Seriously, your ignorance is nothing short of stunning.
- DeFex, on 12/12/2007, -4/+1no, you are just big boned.
- VanillaIcee, on 12/12/2007, -2/+4The article should be renamed "Am I Too MORBIDlY OBESE for Health Insurance?"
I don't agree with insurance companies flat out denying all obese people, but he doesn't just have love handles or a gut. He's tries to pretend that he's not in that bad shape, but he is 70lbs overweight for his height! He has a BMI of 35! You may have a valid point, but don't pretend like you're not an extreme health risk. The average fat linebacker only has a BMI of around 31 for example. - BlackStrain, on 12/12/2007, -6/+4The US health care system scares me.
- IglooBurner, on 12/12/2007, -5/+5well y don't the fatasses lose some weight. its not that hard to drop the 32 oz drink for a cup of OJ or skim milk. and hit the gym on top of that.
- xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -2/+4its not easy like you seem to think, some people simply have slow metabolisms... clearly you know very little about this, when you get older and start packing on the pounds put that logic into place and see how far it takes you.
- yabos, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2Your metabolism does not significantly drop as you get older. You just get lazier. Do you see many older people doing anything after work besides watching tv and eating chips?
- blesbok, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0And you think people's metabolisms have slowed that much in the last 50 years that it is to blame for our nation being 60% overweight? No. It is because people like you make excuses for your laziness. Go out and run a few miles a week and stop shoving mcdonalds down your throat.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1I heard that exercise actually makes your metabolism speed up.
Sounds like a good solution. - IglooBurner, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2i've heard too many excuses about not losing weight. i've seen what a committed person can do. i don't know if i know anymore than you do about losing weight or the physics of it (i doubt u know more than me abou this), but i've seen too many successful cases in real life, that i can state that 90% of people that are classified as "obese" can lose enough weight to be rightfully insured. and no im not talking about the genetically obese person u see on discovery health. im talking about the 400 pound men/lady in front of their computer... etc... eating a double whopper who hit the gym twice a year (thanksgiving and new years) and uses that as their means of "trying"
- xXGeechXx, on 12/12/2007, -2/+4its not easy like you seem to think, some people simply have slow metabolisms... clearly you know very little about this, when you get older and start packing on the pounds put that logic into place and see how far it takes you.
- Metropolis, on 12/12/2007, -0/+6I work at a health insurance agency and it's ridiculous how some people get turned down. We've had people get turned down due to their height and weight because they are body builders or just very muscular. It's a ***** up system and needs to be changed. Even if it means me losing my job.
- ausfahrt, on 12/12/2007, -1/+6Makes sense. If you are obese you shouldn't be covered just like if u smoke in the UK you get no love. Take care of yourself and don't depend on everyone else when u have neglected your body and become ill. They should however have a good screening process, and when it is found that a person is obese for medical reasons beyond their control then yes let's help them, but if you lazy and eat too much see ya later. IMO.
- goochie, on 12/12/2007, -1/+5This guy said he is 6' and 250lbs and claimed that he was considered by most to be in good shape. Really? I am 5'5' and 130lbs and I am being constantly told that I am fat, that I need to lose weight, that I got a big stomach. I guess in Asia, they hold a completely different standard...
- PakoBedejo, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1No...in Asia, most people aren't 20"-24" wide at the shoulders. Admittedly, I'm 6'-3" & 330#s...so I'm obese either way. I just ran the numbers on a buddy of mine who's VERY athletic but who has a BMI of 31 (6'-3" & 250#s). He's 2" wider at the shoulders than I am at least. If he's obese...then Kate Moss could stand to drop a few #s. Despite current popular belief...some people are big-boned. Some of them are big-boned & fit, like my buddy; others are big-boned & fat, like myself.
- gnorb, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2goochie: PakoBedejo is correct. Asians are considerably smaller than... well, hell, just about anybody, really. I'm 6'1, 275 lbs. (Approx 125kg, I think.) I run 6 miles a day (approx. 10 km), have a resting heart rate of ~55 bpm, blood pressure of 115/75, body fat % of 19.5%. Am I healthier than most people? Absolutely. Yet my BMI is at around 36. Would I be considered obese? Morbidly so! If you went by BMI alone, that is. Go by other metrics and another story is told. Can I stand to lose some fat? Absolutely, yet it seems as if it doesn't want to come off, and I don't care for bigger muscles (they're large enough, thank you. I already have problems finding something with a proper shoulder size that doesn't look too baggy around my waistline). By most here I'm considered "big", but certainly not unhealthy. (In fact, I've been congratulated by my doctors as being a particularly healthy person.)
Yes, in Asia they do hold a completely different standard.- goochie, on 12/13/2007, -0/+1I know. And i feel soooo much better now that I am in Germany. I suddenly jump from FAT to slim. God bless German and their bier and wurst.
- gnorb, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2goochie: PakoBedejo is correct. Asians are considerably smaller than... well, hell, just about anybody, really. I'm 6'1, 275 lbs. (Approx 125kg, I think.) I run 6 miles a day (approx. 10 km), have a resting heart rate of ~55 bpm, blood pressure of 115/75, body fat % of 19.5%. Am I healthier than most people? Absolutely. Yet my BMI is at around 36. Would I be considered obese? Morbidly so! If you went by BMI alone, that is. Go by other metrics and another story is told. Can I stand to lose some fat? Absolutely, yet it seems as if it doesn't want to come off, and I don't care for bigger muscles (they're large enough, thank you. I already have problems finding something with a proper shoulder size that doesn't look too baggy around my waistline). By most here I'm considered "big", but certainly not unhealthy. (In fact, I've been congratulated by my doctors as being a particularly healthy person.)
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1You can be skinny fat. really.
at 250 6' i doubt he is not fat though. at 6'3 it is more likely, but the average person fitting those proportions are going to be considered fat
- PakoBedejo, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1No...in Asia, most people aren't 20"-24" wide at the shoulders. Admittedly, I'm 6'-3" & 330#s...so I'm obese either way. I just ran the numbers on a buddy of mine who's VERY athletic but who has a BMI of 31 (6'-3" & 250#s). He's 2" wider at the shoulders than I am at least. If he's obese...then Kate Moss could stand to drop a few #s. Despite current popular belief...some people are big-boned. Some of them are big-boned & fit, like my buddy; others are big-boned & fat, like myself.
- rational1, on 12/12/2007, -4/+2The insurance company should have the right to refuse to trade with people that they don't want to. If you force them to insure people with pre-existing conditions then health-care costs and therefore insurance is just going to sky rocket. Government forced mandates are already increasing the costs tremendously. Here's a link to an excellent article that explains the history of government interference in the health-care industry. Get gov't out of the health-care industry. http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2007-wi ...
- joshuaer, on 12/12/2007, -1/+4If they can turn away smokers, drug addicts and people that do high risk activities ( charge them more ) I see no reason why they can not do the same to fat people. 99% of the time being over weight is a choice not a medical condition.
- FrankieB078, on 12/12/2007, -0/+3This is no shock to me. My BMI is high, but I am a very big, healthy person. I am well built and not grotesquely fat by any means, yet because of my BMI I was denied health coverage at my last job.
Not that it matters anyway I guess, I wouldn't be using it if I had it, because I don't get sick.- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Or you could probably go to the doctor and get it overridden. Maybe you couldnt but any of these instances I have seen so far, that is always an option
- IdevInull, on 12/12/2007, -4/+2Fat people should not even be allowed to go into hospitals.
Or Grocery stores...or restaurants, etc.
This might give them incentive to STOP EATING!!!- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1By the same logic you could deny people alcohol. See how popular you'd be then.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -2/+1If people drank like most fat people eat, they should be in AA
- blesbok, on 12/12/2007, -2/+0I have always recommended that fat people have non-removable tokens stamped to the rear bumpers of their cars next to their license plate. Then we make fat people parking spots and they have to park in the furthest spots in the parking lot and walk their asses up there. If they are caught parking in a non-fat spot they get a ticket like a normal person in a handicapped spot would. ***** giving these people handicapped stickers and feeding their sloth.
- Rammsteined, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1By the same logic you could deny people alcohol. See how popular you'd be then.
- Zuljin, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1That makes sense. They're businesses that lose money when their clients get sick. Fat people are more likely to get sick.
Yeah, people with high BMI's can be in good shape, and vice versa, but it's probably the easiest indicator. - Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Here comes the BMI hate.
but in fact it works well for most people. Exceptions to that rule of thumb can go to a doctor and get it signed off - glmory, on 12/12/2007, -2/+2Insurance companies need to be banned from turning down health insurance to anyone. They also need to be banned from price discrimination based on the health of the applicant(although to keep people from only buying insurance when they get sick a two or three year period where people have limited benefits might be necessary). The entire reason for insurance is to spread the cost between those lucky enough to have good health, and those with poor health. This is one reason socialized health care works so well. Unlike the American system it manages to do this. With minor changes to our laws we could get many more of the advantages of socialized medicine without needing to depend on the government.
- blesbok, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0I think they should be able to charge more if the sickness was deamed self inflicted. If you are a fat ***** with no mental reason behind it, you get charged more. if you have emphysema because you wanted to smoke, you get charged more. if your liver is failing because you like the liquor, you get charged more. If it is something that you had no control over and you just had bad luck, you don't get charged more. Obviously this would never work because insurance companies would find self-inflictign causes for everything, but it is an idea.
- Tweekster, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1as someone who lives a healthy lifestyle (and would be denied at first for being too high on the BMI) I am happy they are doing this stuff (providing they have an appeal process with a doctor)
- rmd34, on 12/12/2007, -3/+0This country is run on scams and people pay good money to keep them running.
- PamalaLauren, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1Whether people believe it or not I'm healthy, have no conditions, great blood pressure, low chlorestol, but I'm fat. Supposedly that makes me at risk for diabetes, heart problems, etc. Thing is, I don't smoke, drink or do any drugs. So in a way it balances out. In the past five years, the only time I've "had" to go to the doctor was for my OB appointments. Otherwise I just go in for my yearly womanly exam. So an insurance company is basing their decision on what they think the long term costs will be for me, when they know nothing of my family history or medical history. It's their right to do so, I just think it's stupid.
- blesbok, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1And how old are you? Because women have significantly less cardiovascular issues before menapause. After the drop in estrogen with menopause they quickly catch up to men in a matter of years. And not smoking does not "balance out" when there are plenty of non-fat people in the country who don't smoke and exercise daily. Especially considering on average, being fat costs a lot more than smoking when it comes to healthcare.
- IdevInull, on 12/12/2007, -2/+1If you were healthy you wouldn't be fat. Fatness shows mental health problems and character problems no matter what. Your physical health problems are just a time bomb waiting to go off or are just undetected right now. There are lots of things that go wrong with fatso people that a standard doctor visit won't pick up.
- Scheissen, on 12/12/2007, -6/+4haha go ***** off with your hand and die fatties
- Ineedanap, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1serious, thats just uncalled for.
- Ineedanap, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1serious, thats just uncalled for.
- BOFH2, on 12/12/2007, -2/+2 It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".
Yeah, I am guessing that this should be a determinate for everything!!!
/sarcasm - tao52nyc, on 12/12/2007, -0/+0If you think you have to ask, you probably are. /sarcasm
- UrbanVoyeur, on 12/12/2007, -1/+3Yes, you are too fat to get health insurance at the discounted/subsidized rate. Like it or not, the extra pounds you carry make it more likely (if not inevitable) that it will cost more more to address your health issues over the course of your life.
It really doesn't matter how good you feel about yourself or whether you want to lose weight or not. It costs more to keep you alive and healthy because you are obese. Morbidly so.
That being said, you should not be forced to lose weight. But you should be required to pay more for your pounds so the rest of us don't have to. Rather than being denied health insurance, you just need pay commensurately more for it. That is only fair. - Takfam, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4Let me ask a valid question: How long do you think it takes to lose weight? I love the way that fatty haters automatically assume that every fatty downs 3 pies for breakfast, a bag of Snickers for lunch, a diet coke and a cupcake for a snack and a couple of pizzas for dinner. Healthy, life changing weight loss is NEVER an immediate thing. Ask anybody that hasn't taken the cop-out that is the lap band/gastric bypass surgery, losing weight is difficult.
That isn't to say that weight loss is impossible or not worth it, but next time you see a fatty-fatty-2x4-cant-get-through-the-kitchen-door, realize that maybe that fatty had a salad and a glass of water for lunch because they're doing their damndest to lose their weight properly.- IdevInull, on 12/12/2007, -3/+2Lies - fat people are pathological. So many THINK they are only eating a salad all day when in reality they downed 10 bags of Frito's and a gallon of ice-cream.
- s1mph0ny, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2The biggest deterrent to obese people losing weight isn't that their body metabolizes food slowly, most of them have injuries which keep them from moving around, or just aren't used to moving around. When your legs hurt with every step you take it's harder to go out for a run.
That of course wouldn't keep a week fast from working. Fasting is one of the best ways to lose weight, especially when any form of real exercise isn't possible.- BOFH2, on 12/16/2007, -0/+1Just a note, us fatties should not be running the first place for the most part. I ride a stationary-recumban(sp?)t bike, just like sitting in a chair and it has a TV on it. Works for me.
- Gemfinder, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2It doesn't help that jerks fatty-bash anyone who isn't a size 3. It starts in grade school: A kid gets called "Fatso" twelve times an hour from eight different sources, every day for years and years and — wow, look at that! They're 15 and they're 60 pounds overweight! Sounds like a case of brainwashing/self-fulfilling prophesy to me.
If your kid fatty-bashes another kid — smack his/her punk ass!
- Pake, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2While BMI is flawed and should be reworked, I'm happy an insurance company is finally taking the initiative to tell overweight people to start eating right and exercising if they want coverage.
- ColonelJessup, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2Why don't insurance companies just lump all the overweight people together into one plan? Same thing with smokers, everyone complains about how fat people and smokers drive up the cost of health insurance for everyone else, so why not just lump certain people into different plans? Then they could charge smokers and fat people more, and healthy people less.
My sister is a nurse, and she says that a couple of the biggest contributors to rising health insurance costs are diabetics who refuse to eat healthy, and old people who refuse to die. The diabetics ignore their doctors orders to stop eating fat and sugar, and continue to eat fried chicken and soda pop, then they get really sick, and rack up huge bills that the insurance companies pay out.
Same with old people who get heart surgery to get an extra 4-5 years out of their heart. They get a triple bypass which can cost the insurance companies 100,000+ dollars, then the doctor tells them "no more cheeseburgers, and get some exercise", yet withing a month they are back to their old habits. Then they get another heart attack, have another surgery, and just repeat the process.
Just lump all these people into different insurance plans. Lower costs for healthy people, higher costs for the rest. Easy! - Gemfinder, on 12/12/2007, -0/+2BMI is *****, even the government admits that much.
The truth is, most insurance companies turn you down for...pretty much anything aside from the common cold or flu. This is why 1 in 10 Americans are uninsured.
Universal health insurance isn't what it's cracked up to be, either. I'm on my state's high risk insurance pool and they bleed almost $500 a month out of me, because I had cancer. Nobody else will accept me for another three to five years so they got me over a barrel.
I don't think we'll ever get universal health care here but there should be a law against dropping people from health insurance programs. Miss one payment and you're either dead in the water or buried alive by out-of-pocket medical expenses. - nobogeys217, on 12/12/2007, -1/+2I am 6'3" and 220 lbs. I'm not fat, I tall and broad. But according to a few BMI calculators I just did online, I am overweight on every one of them.
There needs to be another scale. But its an Insurance gimmick. Like foreign cars are generally more expensive to insure because supposedly the parts are harder to find and the labor is more expensive. It may not be true but what are you gonna do about?
And no, socialized health care is not the answer.- tedonion, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Grab yourself a scale and a measuring tape and check your body fat. . . its a better measure in just about every respect.
If socialized health care is not the answer, what is?
- tedonion, on 12/12/2007, -0/+1Grab yourself a scale and a measuring tape and check your body fat. . . its a better measure in just about every respect.
- DulcetTone, on 12/12/2007, -1/+0Bad news, but denying them this choice is akin to demanding that they issue flood insurance to everyone without being able to inquire whether the prospective insured live near the river.
- Ghostalker, on 12/12/2007, -0/+4No fat chicks!
- gaoshan, on 12/12/2007, -1/+1BMI is not a great metric by which to measure folks. My BMI is 29 but I am 6'6" and weigh 240lbs and don't look fat, never have. I've always been fairly trim, actually. Even my doctor snorted and laughed when I expressed concern about my BMI saying, "Don't worry about that. You aren't overweight. It's covers such a broad spectrum that it is useless for anything more than toying with".
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