If you’re in Alabama, obesity might cost you more than just your health. Health insurance and obesity just don’t fit together anymore.

The Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board just recently approved a plan that requires obese state employees to either make significant progress in beating obesity, or pay an extra charge for their health insurance. Currently, all Alabama state employees receive health insurance at no cost. However, by January 2010, all state employees must undergo a free health screening. If their health screening finds significant problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, or obesity (BMI of at least 35), state employees are given a one-year grace period to do one of the following:

• Visit a physician (at no cost) to work on their obesity problem

• Enroll in a wellness program

• Take steps on their own to improve their health

Follow-up screenings will be given after a year. If significant progress has not been made, state employees will have to begin paying the $25 monthly charge for health insurance.
And there is no way to avoid the new rule. If state employees choose not to get screened, they are automatically responsible for the monthly $25 charge for their health insurance plan.

So, what is this? Is it a morally-responsible move, showing that the state of Alabama cares about the health and well-being of their employees? Or is it simply a way of saving money, and taking advantage of people whenever possible?

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