Can Health Insurance Charge More For Smokers?

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   Neil Steinman

   Owner, Orange County Health & Life Insurance,

   Health insurance absolutely can charge more for smokers. In fact, under Healthcare Reform, the ONLY things for which carriers can charge more are age, location and smoking. Smoking was going to be a 50% increase. That's  HUGE rate increase, but it ought to give you an idea of the claims that occur as a result of smoking. However, just recently Health & Human services stated they can't figure out how to logistically charge more for smoking at this time, so for the 1st year of Healthcare Reform, they are NOT going to charge more for smoking, which could end up raising the rates for everyone else. So again, prior to Healthcare Reform you will pay an increase. But as of 1/1/14, no rate increase - at least for the 1st year.

   Answered on July 17, 2013

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