Obamacare Costs Incentivized Smokers to Forego Coverage, Smoke More
Posted By Ali Meyer On August 10, 2016 @ 3:20 pm In Issues | No Comments
The Affordable Care Act allowed health insurance plans to charge smokers up to 50 percent more in premiums, which incentivized smokers to forego coverage and smoke more, according to a study from Health Affairs.
Obamacare included provisions that were supposed to incentivize smokers to quit, requiring health insurance plans to screen for tobacco use and cessation treatment with no cost sharing. Plans were also allowed to charge smokers up to 50 percent more in premiums than non-smokers.
The report found that charging smokers more for health insurance did not increase the number of smokers who quit or drive down health care costs, which was the primary stated aim of Obamacare.
Article printed from Washington Free Beacon:
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