Whole foods gives their employees a 20% discount but will "reward' those with a BMI of less than thirty and who do not smoke a discount of 30%, according to a recent news release.
Another grocer doesn't reward the non obese but penalizes the more than overweight and smokers. A BMI of over thirty-two and/or smoking will get one a $40.00 a week increase in health insurance cost. These costs can be limited to just a three month period if one calls the insurance company and agrees to participate in regular sessions with a "health coach".
I like the preventive medicine approach now being taken by employers. It is good for the employees health and will cost the employers less in the long run. The biggest drawn backs I have noticed to these programs is that the ones who participate tend to be the ones who are recently diagnosed with health problems and it can be financially devastating to already struggling low wage earners.
I never realized how unhealthy I ws until the company had a free health screening at the store about four or five years ago. One has not been held since.
My biggest concern about programs like this is not whether it is fair or not to bigger employees or to smokers but whether it will lead to discrimination in hiring practices. Just beause one is large and/or smokes does not mean that they are unhealthy nor does it mean that they can afford not to have a job. It stands to reason that if a employer is concerned enough about health care costs to give away 10% of its income from employee purchases, it would also encourgage, either overtly or covertly, the hiring managers to hire people they believe to be less of a health risk. It even may lead to a requirement that applicants furnish a recent physical along with their job application for common low paying jobs.
Now wouldn't that get the opponents of the Whole Foods owner in an uproar if he did that?
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