Should smokers and obese people be forced to pay more for medical insurance?
In the UK they do, I work for Independent Financial Advisers and Private Medical Insurance is really beginning to take off. There is 2 basic types of underwriting. The first one you are given a premium that you pay every month, but are not covered for any existing medical conditions like diabetes or whatever, that you already have. The second type you are covered for everything, even existing conditions, but you have to go through a full medical screening after which the company can charge you whatever premium they like, take it or leave it. Off the top of my head, some of the factors affecting your premium are smoker status, height/ weight ratio, age, gender, occupation and Post code (Zip code).
