Some Health Insurance Companies Making a Profit From Smokers

[Joanne98]

As President Barack Obama pushes Congress to pass by August a health-care reform bill that provides coverage to all Americans, a new study from Harvard University about the money-making practices of health insurers has caught our attention.

Each year, about 443,600 people in the United States die from tobacco-related illnesses; about half of all Americans who keep smoking will die from it. This nasty habit kills more of us than alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS, murder and illegal drugs combined, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women.

And it appears health insurers are hedging their bets that these deaths will actually make them money. The seemingly twisted findings are a part of a study out this week from Harvard doctors, who say that seven health and life-insurance companies in both the United States and overseas have nearly $4.5 billion invested in tobacco stocks. Prudential company alone has more than $1.5 million invested. That means those insurance companies have a financial interest in seeing more people smoke.

"It’s the combined taxidermist and veterinarian approach: either way you get your dog back," Harvard’s David Himmelstein, who co-author of a letter published in this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, told Scientific American, who contacted some of the insurance companies mentioned to get comment. "If you own a billion dollars , then you don’t want to see it go down."

Continued>>>
http://www.wowowow.com/money/some-health-insurance-companies-making-proft-smokers-314003

[Stuart G]

1. This quote...makes me want to puke..

"And it appears health insurers are hedging their bets that these deaths will actually make them money. The seemingly twisted findings are a part of a study out this week from Harvard doctors, who say that seven health and life-insurance companies in both the United States and overseas have nearly $4.5 billion invested in tobacco stocks. Prudential company alone has more than $1.5 million invested. That means those insurance companies have a financial interest in seeing more people smoke."

:puke: