Penalties for Smokers and Obese People or Let Them Die?

According to a report from the AP, smokers and obese people are a burden, in terms of the high cost in caring for them. Annual health care costs are roughly $96 billion for smokers and $147 billion for the obese, the government says. Even with the help, research shows that smokers die 10 years earlier on average, and the obese die five to 12 years prematurely. So the question remains whether or not we just let the smokers and obese people suffer and die and save the system money. Or maybe apply a lifestyle penalty for smoking and for being fat.

And the debate of what goes into the Affordable Care Act continues…

Here are some reactions online.

doc365:
People just need to shut up and quit trying to dictate life styles to others. Quit acting like its all their own money going to health care. Most people who pay tax’s are drinkers, and smokers. and fast food eaters. Not smart mouth college kids who twit like the twinks they are.

Kattfomtheocean:
Here we go the scapegoating is beginning, it’s the fat people and smokers fault that healthcare is so high, for now. Who’s next, certainly the Elderly because they naturally have more health problems, after that the disabled maybe or cancer patients and where will it end ? Sounds like the ACA won’t be so affordable after all, but the Insurance Companies will be happy though.

kat150:
why not start where it started, if we were going to do something like that? Even with out stopping at fast food joints, who can afford healthy food. Even if you don’t smoke, try to eat right. Well the food already has so much crap in it. Water has been blamed for cancer, now everyone drinks that and is drinking it out of bottles that are now blamed for cancer. Still they drink from it. The fear put in people over water seems to be the best seller. Everyone makes bad choices, lets tax that! That’s like tax on a option, everyone has one. You just read mine. If big brother wasn’t wasting money on big parties and other Sh– maybe money would be there. Instead they want to keep doing what they are doing and find a reason to come after us for even MORE money. When will the madness end? When will the people start pointing the finger back where it belongs? By the way smoking killed my mother. She paid for ALL of her bills.

Magic Cat Woman:
Correct me if i am wrong,but is’nt this how Hitler started?,to save money and resources they said to get rid of all of the none productive people in the following groups,the old people,the disabled,the mentaly ill,and the sick,and when no one protested this,then they started getting rid of others-the jews,the gays,the gypses,and so on and so on and so on…