Obesity Insurance Costs: Will Premiums Rise for Weight?
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/08/02 - Updated: 2026/02/03
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Insurance - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This report examines how obesity-related medical expenses, currently totaling $147 billion annually in the United States, may affect health insurance premiums for individuals carrying excess weight. Drawing from data provided by the CDC and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the information addresses a pressing financial concern for millions of Americans who face healthcare costs 41 percent higher than those at normal weight - approximately $1,500 more per year. The piece proves particularly relevant for people with disabilities and chronic conditions, as obesity serves as a driver for multiple serious health issues including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Insurance companies have begun implementing point-based premium systems that charge higher rates based on weight and related health markers, making this information valuable for anyone trying to understand how their health status might impact insurance affordability and coverage options - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Will Insurance Companies Pass on the High Cost of Obesity?
The skyrocketing health care epidemic of obesity is now costing America $147 billion per year in medical costs. Will insurance companies pass that cost along to you
Health care costs related to obesity are skyrocketing in America. Today just over nine percent of all medical spending is due to the obesity epidemic. That amounts to a whopping $147 billion a year.
Main Content
The obese person spends about 41 percent more on health care than a person with normal weight. That amounts to $1,500 per year. Add to that figure the extra costs of disability and early deaths caused by obesity.
"Obesity, and with it diabetes, are the only major health problems that are getting worse in this country," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "The average American is now 23 pounds overweight."
"Obesity is the driver of so many chronic conditions - heart disease, diabetes, cancer - that generate the exorbitant cost that are crushing our health-care system," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Experts say the only way to stop this epidemic is to get Americans to change the way they eat and change their lifestyles.
One way to accomplish this goal is by using a point system associated with various health issues of obesity.
Some insurance companies are already using this point system to increase premiums for those who are over weight or obese. The more unhealthy and overweight a person is the more money that person will pay. This should be a motivator for those who are obese or overweight to become healthier.
Pharmaceutical companies are already cashing in on the obesity problem with prescription drugs. Now, the insurance industry wants to charge more and financially benefit from the unhealthy condition of most Americans.
Part of the CDC's strategy for a healthier population is to make more health food available, promote more choices of healthy foods, encourage physical activity, and create sites in the community for support.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The intersection of public health policy and insurance pricing raises questions that extend far beyond individual responsibility. While premium increases tied to weight might motivate some people toward healthier habits, this approach also risks creating financial barriers to coverage for those already struggling with obesity-related conditions - many of whom face socioeconomic challenges that contributed to their health status in the first place. The real test of these policies will be whether they genuinely encourage preventive care and lifestyle changes, or simply shift costs onto those least equipped to bear them while doing little to address the systemic factors - food deserts, sedentary work environments, and limited access to preventive healthcare - that fuel America's obesity epidemic - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.