Interesting - Health Insurers Want You to Keep Smoking

[Antebellum]

Health and life insurance companies in the US and abroad have nearly $4.5 billion invested in tobacco stocks, according to Harvard doctors.

“It’s the combined taxidermist and veterinarian approach: either way you get your dog back,” says David Himmelstein, an internist at the Harvard Medical School and co-author of a letter published in this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read the rest of the article here. (ScientificAmerican.com 60 Second Science.)

 

[geeker]

"either way, you get your dog back" Hoohoo! That's hilarious!

 

[surbitonPete]

"either way, you get your dog back" Hoohoo! That's hilarious!

Oh dear I just have to remember that quote, that's brilliant, it bought tears to my eyes laughing so much.

 

[effigi]

I am not surprised. The longer a person suffers from illness before they die, the more medical bills accumulate. Someone is making money from this besides the tobacco folks.

 

[Caesarea]

There was talk at one point of giving smokers lower rates, precisely because they would not last so long.

C.

 

[effigi]

hmm....last long...how morbid, but accurate.

 

[Caesarea]

hmm....last long...how morbid, but accurate.

Well effigi, my life policies are v expensive, 'cos I told the truth. I guess they wanted to have their cake and eat it

C.

 

[geeker]

Well effigi, my life policies are v expensive, 'cos I told the truth. I guess they wanted to have their cake and eat it

C.

They would know, anyway.
Life insurance physicals include nicotine/cotinine testing.
I posted a thread a couple of weeks ago wondering if vapers could get a better ins rate, but my money says as long as nicotine or it's metabolites are detected, you will pay the smoker's rate.

 

[Mary Kay]

I came close to being called a lier because I told my Dr. I wasn't smoking anymore..she gave me a fish eye and taps the blood report, that says I have nic in my system. I tried to tell her about the e-cig but she dismissed it. My husband said from now on tell them you are using nic gum.

My eyesight has become very blurred by taking insulin, the eye Dr. gave me an RX for bi-focal glasses and then said my sight would probably change several times before stabilizing or going back to normal. (I only use weak readers for small print). I told asked him why I should buy glasses until then, he said well you may need several pairs before that happens.
At $100 to $200 dollars a pop in his office? I think not..just ignore the typo's for a while people!

 

[Willowsong]

You can buy readers in a variety of magnifications at just about any pharmacy... for about 10 bucks. When I got my Rx for them, I took the # on it and went to Target

I came close to being called a lier because I told my Dr. I wasn't smoking anymore..she gave me a fish eye and taps the blood report, that says I have nic in my system. I tried to tell her about the e-cig but she dismissed it. My husband said from now on tell them you are using nic gum.

My eyesight has become very blurred by taking insulin, the eye Dr. gave me an RX for bi-focal glasses and then said my sight would probably change several times before stabilizing or going back to normal. (I only use weak readers for small print). I told asked him why I should buy glasses until then, he said well you may need several pairs before that happens.
At $100 to $200 dollars a pop in his office? I think not..just ignore the typo's for a while people!

 

[surbitonPete]

I came close to being called a lier because I told my Dr. I wasn't smoking anymore..she gave me a fish eye and taps the blood report, that says I have nic in my system. I tried to tell her about the e-cig but she dismissed it. My husband said from now on tell them you are using nic gum.

My eyesight has become very blurred by taking insulin, the eye Dr. gave me an RX for bi-focal glasses and then said my sight would probably change several times before stabilizing or going back to normal. (I only use weak readers for small print). I told asked him why I should buy glasses until then, he said well you may need several pairs before that happens.
At $100 to $200 dollars a pop in his office? I think not..just ignore the typo's for a while people!

Hi Mary....my eyesight is suffering from age but I purchased a load of different strength reading glasses from what we call a Pound shop...(everything cost's just one £) they work a treat for me with reading and on the computer. I don't know if you can get those type of cheap glasses over there.