More than 30% of respondents say overweight or obese individuals should have to fork out more for health insurance, according to the most recent Thomas Reuters-NPR Health Poll.
Among those polled, 84.8% believe that individuals who exercise, eat healthy and do not use tobacco products should receive a discount on their health insurance premiums. This response was more prominent as education level and respondents’ income increased.
Survey participants rate the top factors that drive up health care costs: Smoking taking the No. 1 spot (28.5%), obesity (27.6%), stress (25.2%), alcohol use (11.2%) and lastly workplace safety (7.5%).
“Our survey findings provide a benchmark for public sentiment on issues that are continually dividing lawmakers, businesspeople and health care professionals,” says Raymond Fabius, M.D., chief medical officer for the health care business of Thomson Reuters. “By pairing our data analytics with NPR's health care reporting, we're able to offer a valuable perspective on these critical issues.”
Each month, the Reuters poll surveys approximately 3,000 Americans to gauge attitudes and opinions on a wide range of issues related to health care. In the October 2011 study 3,012 participants were interviewed in September 2011.
