Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Human Resource Management
 
Board
Department of Human Resource Management
 
chapter
Commonwealth of Virginia Health Benefits Program [1 VAC 55 ‑ 20]
Action This action will amend section 1VAC 55 320(E) to include adults, other than spouses and incapacitated adult children, as participants in the Health Benefits Plan for State Employees
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 12/23/2009
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12/15/09  1:37 pm
Commenter: Tom Osborne

Shooting down the opponents of this proposal
 

I am most fascinated by the arguments against this proposal of those who claim they shouldn't have to support the "lifestyle" of those they disapprove of.  Using that same logic:

1)  People like me, who do not ski or participate in other active sports, should not have to subsidize the "lifestyle" of those who do; thus, sports injuries should be excluded from state health insurance policies.

2)  People like me, who disapprove of excessive reproduction in a world suffering from massive overpopulation, should not have to subsidize the "lifestyle" of those who fail to practice birth control; thus, state-sponsored family health insurance coverage should be limited to parents and a maximum of 2 children.

3) People who do not consume alcohol shouldn't have to subsidize the "lifestyle" of those who do; therefore, any alcohol-related illness should be excluded from state-sponsored health insurance coverage.

4) People who do not smoke shouldn't have to subsidize the "lifestyle" of those who do; therefore, any tobacco-related illness should be excluded from state-sponsored health insurance coverage.

My point is this:  insurance, by its very definition, means people are "sharing risks" with others with whom they disagree and who are making different life choices.  It takes a lot of gall (and hypocrisy) for people to argue against making insurance available to those of whose "lifestyles" they "disapprove" -- but insist that all the unique health risks based on their own "lifestyle" be covered.

CommentID: 10708