This article referenced for the debate states that the lifetime medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke among the obese are $10,000 higher. Because medical costs are higher for the obese and insurance premiums do not depend on weight, lighter people pay for the food/exercise decisions of the obese. Because of this, those who are obese should have to pay more for their medical insurance than those who are not just as smokers do!

As a matter of detail, BMI is not regarded as an accurate assessment of health and could be misleading.

Also, a study by a health economist, Jay Bhattacharya, shows that obese people already pay for their increased health care premiums in employer group plans by virtue of making less money (discrimination?).

But as a matter of principle, the solution is not to make unhealthy people pay more, but rather to enlarge the pool of covered people, so that the the risk of the unhealthy is managed statistically and also to provide more resources toward diet-related research, healthy living and improving the standard of living for all Americans. Empower all people to understand and contribute to our own and each other's well-being.

People on the other side of this argument want healthcare to be affordable, ironically, only to those who don't need healthcare. That is not what I consider to be a very good solution.

BMI body mass index this does not measure a person correctly for who they are rugby players they are mainly muscle so they can take a beating and can generate more force, power and momentum though the BMI says that these people are overweight or ebese so people that have a higher BMI shouldn't have to pay more.

further more just becuase someone is skinny or weighs less doesn't mean that they are healthy. i am sick of people that complain about weight or there diet just get up and do something about it

no im fat the HELL i wana pay more then the next guy.....