> This is such a stupid, self-defeating policy for an insurer.
Quick, rank speculation:
100% of obese people don't go on to suffer from 100% of the potential risks of obesity.
Given the actual percentages, it may be cheaper for the insurance company to pay for (and, at least in part, deny!) actual treatment for those potential risks than to cover the vast majority of preventative doctor visits and labs.
Additional rank speculation-- I wonder if that problem gets worse as obesity numbers rise. E.g., symptom A necessitates a test for condition X, but symptom A plus obesity necessitates tests for condition X, Y, and Z...
Quick, rank speculation:
100% of obese people don't go on to suffer from 100% of the potential risks of obesity.
Given the actual percentages, it may be cheaper for the insurance company to pay for (and, at least in part, deny!) actual treatment for those potential risks than to cover the vast majority of preventative doctor visits and labs.
Additional rank speculation-- I wonder if that problem gets worse as obesity numbers rise. E.g., symptom A necessitates a test for condition X, but symptom A plus obesity necessitates tests for condition X, Y, and Z...