Being obese, or to call a spade a spade, being grossly overweight, is a distinct problem when it comes to health care. One in five Americans is far too heavy for his or her own good.
It is a sad commentary on our nation as a whole to see that one in five American citizens is so heavy that he or she has trouble walking. The health issues obese Americans face are multiple. For this reason, insurance companies are reluctant to take them on as customers. The fact is that if your body mass index is 30 or higher it rates as obesity, and insurance companies are leery about the higher risks of cancers, diabetes, heart disease and other issues.
Is it true that health insurance companies will not insure an obese person? No, it is not. They still have a chance to get health insurance, but it may be more expensive and difficult to get. The thing to understand is that although the insurance company may still issue a policy that policy will exclude any pre-existing conditions. Obesity qualifies as a pre-existing condition.
If you are making an effort to lose the weight through a weight loss program or diet, and can prove that to the health insurance company, they may be able to reduce your hefty premiums. So while you are still able to access health insurance, the price may be fairly high. Nonetheless, it is worth having coverage in the event of a medical problem.
No matter what your health issue happens to be or how much you weigh and whether or not you take care of yourself, health insurance is a must. Without it you would face horrendously high medical bills that you might not be able to pay if something goes wrong. All it takes is a bout of pneumonia and a stay in hospital or being in an accident and suffering injuries for your bills to skyrocket. For those without health insurance, this is a serious issue, and one that could literally drive them to bankruptcy.
Be smart, no matter what your weight is, and find out what kind of policy will suit you. If you ever need to use the coverage, you will be glad you have it.
Clelland Green is with Benepath.com, a leader in providing health insurance quotes. Benepath provides individuals, families, and businesses with affordable health insurance quotes in just a few mouse clicks. To learn more, visit http://www.benepath.com.
