by NASH DUNN
News Reporter

North Carolina state employees who qualify as obese will pay more for health insurance beginning July 2011 as part of a Comprehensive Wellness Initiative by the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees (SHPNC).

The initiative, which is required by a N.C. Senate bill passed in April, will cause state employees with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40 to pay for a more expensive health care plan. 

The initiative will also target smokers, forcing all tobacco users to adopt the more expensive plan starting July 2010.

In addition to helping repress increasing health care costs, the initiative’s goal is to help state employees better manage their health, according to shpnc.org.

“The program is about helping members succeed,” SHPNC Director of Communication Linda McCrudden said. “This program does not discriminate, and is about the improved health of our state employees.” 

Despite SHPNC’s assertions, McCrudden said there have been feelings of “pressure and anxiety” from state employees already.

Michael B. Ramey, Appalachian State University’s faculty senate chair said there have been concerns of discrimination and constitutionality from faculty members.

“It does have the appearance of a knee-jerk response to the increase costs of health care [for state employees],” Ramey said.

Although Ramey believes improved health of employees would decrease costs, he feels the “fat tax” may be an exaggerated or extreme response.

SHPNC has yet to define a plan for monitoring and testing employees’ BMI and tobacco use, and there has been statewide skepticism about whether BMI is the correct statistic to measure obesity.

State employees who choose not to participate in verification monitoring and testing will be moved to the more expensive plan. Employees who are already involved in weight or tobacco management programs can apply for exemption from the more expensive plan.  

For more information on the Comprehensive Wellness Initiative, visit shpnc.org/comp-wellness.

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