Quote:
Originally Posted by Injecto 
I disagree, I should NOT have to pay MORE taxes, in MY country, because I got hit with a disease that I didn't ask for. It's basically saying I must pay more for the benefit of someone else to take care of me (Dr.s), albeit, in a very mediocre kind of way.
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My understanding of this was not that you paid more for having the disease. It's that you paid more for not making the attempt to modify risk factors you have for getting sick. That is what all of the proposals I've seen have been, and it makes sense.
What I don't get it, as far as chronic disease go, diabetes is relatively cheap. Month-to-month my diabetes is cheaper than my asthma. My asthma has resulted in more ER visits. My asthma has resulted in more ambulance rides. Month to month my asthma medications cost more than my insulin, test strips, and pump supplies. So why aren't we seeing articles on cutting asthma costs? I mean, occasionally we do, but doesn't seem to be nearly as prevalent as with diabetes. My guess is that this is solely related to stereotypes. We picture asthma as the skinny kid who can't breath and takes a hit of albuterol once in awhile, and we picture a diabetic as a fat old man who couldn't put down the cake. I guess the fat old man is easier to point the finger at.
