It is called the probability matrix. As you get older, the probability of you needing an expensive procedure increases. So you're premiums increase.

How is it that at age 50, my car insurance on a 19 year old truck keeps increasing to about $800 / year? Because I am paying for the uninsured. Just like you are paying for the uninsured with your health care premiums.

Welcome to socialism... Who did you vote for? Let me guess. Obama*care. You get what you voted for..

Both comments are very interesting and hold valid points. It's unfortunate that there is a probability factor and the cost of covering the uninsured/underinsured. But these are the facts of healthcare in the US. When you add in all the additional factors, it's mind-boggling, i.e; cost-of-living increases, job losses from foreign trade and immigration, inflated salaries and so-on. the ones making money are not going to back down and the ones needing money will always be mis-directed. Presidents Carter, Clinton and Obama have made honest attempts to make change. And each of them suffered tremendous abuse for their efforts. Unless we stop operating off what is being feed to us by the Money-Makers and focus on the real causes, nothing will ever change. Sandee is right on target, just as Victor. But just like Victor stated, "Who Did You Vote For", but more important, what were you voting for. One man can make a difference, but it takes people to make a change. Cliff W-T

My husband has been on my insurance for 3 years now and has never had a claim. He gets all of his care at the VA Hospital and they do not file the charges to my insurance since his visits are service connected. I would love a price break on his coverage but know that we need healthy members to be in the "pool" with others that are not so healthy to help balance out the costs. If they gave discounts to all the healthy members, it would drive up the cost for everyone. It may not be fair but we need a diverse mix of healthy and not so healthy to keep the ship a float.

I work very hard to stay healthy. I work out every day at lunch at our local YMCA. Some of my co-workers are over weight, smoke, eat what ever they want to, and never exercise. Of course I should be rewarded by having lower insurance premiums.

Health Insurance is privatized, correct? I agree, why aren't healthy people rewarded with lower health insurance costs. How about this screnario: auto insurance companies make complete profit(I know they must pay their workers, but...) if someone were to drive 10 years and never have an accident. That insurance money never comes back, only to be used in emergency situations. However, with socializing health insurance, it seems that the big fear is paying for someone else's poor mistakes. How about a gym/healthy food restaurant that caters and tracks those who already to their part to keep health care costs down? This is an investment on the insurance company and the individuals doing their part. My case in point: Type-2 diabetes and heart conditions based on poor diet/lack of exercise. Aren't the numbers extremely high in this industrialized nation of excess? IT"S CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY!. Sorry to bring politics into this, but: first; what side of the political spectrum does the typical vegan fall under? Secondly, how much cholesterol does a vegan consume? Answers to both, leftist and ZERO. Ever notice how the ones against socializing medicine want the freedom to eat as many cheeseburgers they can stuff in their gullet, and then complain about the poor mooching off the healthcare system. Seems a little hypocritical to me, wouldn't you say? Where's the incentive for the healthy people? I'm sure that government mandated exercise and diet appeals to neither side, but then again, we're still living in a privatized health insurance society, why hasn't the push come from the health insurance companies to reward the healthy people who are in essence the bread-winners for their organization?

Too add; in countries with socialized healthcare, the average life expectancy is higher. Why's that? Do you think it's due to the actual fact of having socialized healthcare? No, of course not. Who enjoys this, mainly most countries that aren't the U.S. What's their typical diet? Well, to start, foods lower in cholesterol, smaller portions, etc. What's the difference in terms of physicality? Hmm... not driving everywhere they need to go; walking, and public transportation, but mainly walking. I understand that this is an infrastructure difference, but I live in Raleigh, near the university, and God-forbid that anyone walk even a quarter mile to do anything, even if gas prices still climb steadily. Bottom line, we're a nation of people who want to complain about almost everything, but when it comes to cutting conveniences that almost no other nations enjoy. Don't believe it, try and find a drive-thru fast food chain that operates at the same number of locations anywhere else. DRIVE THRUS. I think misinformation towards consumers play a great deal in this too. Like people who think that Obama has something to do with rising gas prices, hahaha. When I speak to people who believe this, they also don't believe in global warming, and also don't believe in over-population. Of course, we do have scientists who devote their lives to researching such things, and whenever they present this information they claim craziness. Then they say the science is fallible, yet they don't seem to mind the scientists who engineer cars and televisions, which must be credible. Gas goes up because the demand goes up. Wait...you mean China's just started developing cars for their over-a-billion populated country, and you think that gas prices aren't going to soar? As if more drilling is the key to getting cheaper gas? What about the fact that it's a finite resource? Huge demand increase and shrinking supply. What does gas have to do with healthcare? Only transportation costs really, but the issue is that the consumer is misinformed. Like having a child. Yes, having a child in a hospital is the safest way, but since when in human history, did passing a child cost $10,000? Answer that health insurance companies and doctors. Wait, were doctors always around for such an event? How did we ever survive without it?

Agree. The sad thing is some people have family history of diseases and some have issues that can't be helped. So it would have to be narrowed down. Like someone with Parkinson's disease for instance.

seriously? Yer gonna take credit for genes and luck?? How is this any different then saying, well i dont have a genetic predisposition to sivere so i shiould be favored. Im not sying dont do what you cant to avoid risks, but it takes a lot of guts to consider yerself somehow superior because you have been lucky. It nice you have done and are doing what you have been told by the MDA to stay healthy and I applaud that, but you seem a bit TOO pleased with yourself. And way to ready to blame others for not being quite as gulible to believe that the MDA has anyones benifit in mind but there own.

There are some disease processes that are completely random and have very little to do with lifestyle or life choices - just like some motor vehicle collisions are completely random and unavoidable. That said, the vast majority of diseases have at least some element of lifestyle choice. Like most vehicle accidents have some element of driver responsibility. To argue otherwise is simply incorrect.

Some people work very hard making proper food choices, getting regular exercise, keeping their weight in check, avoiding tobacco, illicit substances, or excess alcohol. Why shouldn't less health insurance utilization be rewarded with lower premiums? It surely is not a foreign concept: Better credit rating warrants cheaper interest rates. Ticket free driving warrants a better auto insurance rate.

I am in my 50's, I exercise, don't smoke, don't drink, a healthy weight, go to the doctor regularly. I found out that I have osteoporosis - something that many middle-aged caucasian women have through no fault of their own. I am taking a prescription medicine that costs $840/month. My BCBSNC health insurance does not cover prescription drugs and has a high deductible - which keeps my premiums low. Am I being responsible by cutting way back on my expenses so that I can afford this drug every month? I live a healthy lifestyle, though. So shouldn't my premiums be lower?

No one should be treated any different than anyone else UNLESS they subscribe to a program designed to do just that. Never discriminate for any reason. There are several programs that health insurance companies offer those who CHOOSE to be rewarded for something they do anyway. There are companies who charge you more for being in your 50's, that would make all the 'don'ts worthless if they still charge you more.

The only thing missing out of that speech is that there just aren't enough bicycle paths. You're afraid that at some point in the future, you will be personally inconvenienced. You fail to take into account the fact that as you age, your body accelerates its cycle of entrophy. It's breaking down. Arteries, muscles, nerves, cells, bones, brain; pick one. If that weren't so, we'd all live forever, wouldn't we? So who bears the burden when you and hubby need a knee or hip replaced? One of the other beautiful people that exercise and don't wish to burden themselves or burden the insurance company with their healthy lifestyles? I read elsewhere in this forum how poor people make poor choices. Did you ever stop to consider that perhaps they do the best they can? They buy the 10 for $10 mac and cheese dinners because that's all they can afford and to keep from starving? And with that choice comes the clogged arteries and poor nutrition. Yes, those same people eat off the dollar menu at all the fast food places. It's cheap and it's filling. No, it's not healthy. Did you give pause to even consider that, or did you just rip into your diatribe on the basis of your wallet and how this affects you?