Insurance carriers may charge an average 22.6 percent more for monthly premiums for individuals with a high body mass index when they purchase individual coverage. Smoking may also boost monthly premiums by an average 14 percent.
These are among the findings by eHealth Inc., the parent company of eHealthInsurance, which offers premium rate quotes online, in a report that describes how weight and smoking status affect not only health and wellness but the cost of premiums for individual health insurance.
The findings also showed that women paid more in monthly premiums for individual insurance across all the categories in the study.
Data for the premium comparisons came from two samples of more than 200,000 individual major medical policies each and which were purchased through eHealthInsurance, according to a Dec. 19 company announcement.
Other factors, such as an individual's medical history or the presence of a pre-existing condition, may also affect monthly premium price.
In many states, it is possible to be declined coverage for individual health insurance coverage due to a high BMI, according to the study, "Smoking Status and body Mass Index Relative to Average Individual Health Insurance Premiums," which was an addendum to a cost and benefits report released in November.
Among the findings of the smoking and BMI study were:
• Policyholders in the obese BMI category paid an average $201 monthly premium, or 22.6 percent more than the $164 monthly paid by those in the normal BMI range;
• Men in the obese BMI category paid an average $187 monthly, or 30.8 percent higher than the $143 monthly paid by those in the normal BMI range, while women in the obese BMI category paid an average $221 monthly, or 22.8 percent more than the $180 monthly paid by those in the normal BMI range;
• Smokers paid an average $207 monthly premium, or 14 percent more than the $181 monthly paid by non-smokers;
• Women smokers paid an average $240 monthly premium, or 23 percent higher than the $195 monthly paid by non-smoking women, while men smokers paid an average $187 monthly premium, or 13 percent higher than the $166 paid by non-smoking men.
With the price comparison information, individuals can understand the link between higher premium costs and unhealthy lifestyles, said Gary Lauer, eHealth CEO. "We feel that this data can provide further incentive to any individual trying to tackle these important health issues," he said in a statement.