November 7, 2011   Across the country, employers are rewarding some workers for healthy behavior and penalizing those who are overweight or smoke. NPR surveyed more than 3,000 adults across the country to see how they feel about these approaches.  A solid majority—59 percent—say that smokers should pay more for health insurance than non-smokers. Nearly three-quarters of people in households with an annual income of $100,000 or more say smokers should pay more. Seventy percent of those with at least a college degree support higher rates for non-smokers. Among people who smoke, slightly less than a third of them support higher fees for health insurance. When it came to charging higher rates for people who are overweight or obese, the majority of people polled were opposed. Overall, people prefer insurance discounts for positive behavior over penalties for those who stray from the road to good health.

For More Information:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/11/03/141984867/insurance-penalties-for-smokers-draw-wide-support?ft=1&f=103537970