More employers look to have say over worker health

“They think, 'My employer doesn't have a choice in the car I drive or the house I live in. Why are they all of a sudden so interested in my health?' ”

If you haven't gotten the message yet, it's a good bet your employer is about to tell you to get up off the couch and run around the block - and while you're at it, put down that beer. via TwinCities

[Ban Everything]

I'm going to spend this weekend re-reading the book 1984 just to feel better about all of this.

[Thomas F]

It's an assualt by government, employers... You're right B.E.... It's 1984.

[Dizzy One]

If the owners of Treasure Island Casino are so worried about their employees health, why don't they raise their wages to a level where they don't have to skimp on health care to make ends meet?

[Health]

Our health care system needs to promote preventative care instead of treatment. The GOP dummies think that they get by cheaper to treat people, but statistics from countries with nationalized health care have proven that more frequent preventative care actually costs about one-tenth as much. It's time for America to stop being penny-wise and pound foolish.

[Thomas F]

Health wrote:

Our health care system needs to promote preventative care instead of treatment. The GOP dummies think that they get by cheaper to treat people, but statistics from countries with nationalized health care have proven that more frequent preventative care actually costs about one-tenth as much. It's time for America to stop being penny-wise and pound foolish.

Agreed. And that seems to be the gist of this article. However, being in the health insurance industry for my "day job" I see many contracts where preventative benefits are not covered at all, or the coverage is VERY skimpy, to the point that most "preventative" visits will wind up costing the patient in additional services that may be required but are not covered by that contract.

And then employers want to whine about the rising costs and use it as an excuse to become directly involved in their employees health.

There's already been a company in Michigan that refused to hire any smokers, the same company was toying with the idea of not hiring anyone obese. Just wait. It will come to the point that the discrimination is Smoking, Weight, Vital Statistics, etc... And it's actually all perfectly legal. Smokers is where it starts and they get no support. When it hits the next group they look for help and get none and so on until the last group falls and has no one behind them to support them and the people to go down first aren't there anymore.

"First they came for the Socialists, and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left
to speak up for me.”
- Martin Niemoler ( Alleged Anti-Semite. Spent 8 years in Dachau Concentration Camp).

Just wait, they WILL come for you.

[Former Hewitt Associate]

Health wrote:

Our health care system needs to promote preventative care instead of treatment. The GOP dummies think that they get by cheaper to treat people, but statistics from countries with nationalized health care have proven that more frequent preventative care actually costs about one-tenth as much. It's time for America to stop being penny-wise and pound foolish.

If you think that after health care is nationalized it will be that awesome, wake up!!! Take a look right now: all politicians, Lefts and Rights, propagate Public Education as the best of the best, yet they themselves and their children attend Private Schools EXCLUSIVELY! By the Way: Nationalized = Rationed. That is, you will get only as much health care as it is rationed by the Washington. Then you'll the actual lines in the ER, unlike now. Under Nationalized HC doctors will be reduced to the same level as teachers in public schools, with similar level of salary. So, the profession will not attract the best and brightest, but anyone who did not make it elsewhere. And that is the level of care you will receive, and these type of doctors will perform surgery on you. But, at least politicians and wealthy will have their private doctors to take care of them and their families. Isn't that nice ... And on the last note: the one/tenth cost of health care "bologna" are thrown at us by the same politicians who will enjoy their very own private care. Do you really believe in that? just remember that $1000 hammer and $5000 toilet seat purchased by the government. Can you imagine how much the car would cost should government build it?!?! If anything we need to keep government away from Health Care, instead promoting fair competition among doctors and hospitals. Then we will see on the doctor's door a price list for every procedure and every visit, similar to restaurants. Also, the insurance companies should be looked at really hard about them colluding on HC insurance prices. That is what government should do, and not to run my hospital!