Most Americans Support Higher Premiums for Smokers, Poll Finds

Most Americans support insurance companies charging higher rates for people who smoke, although the number has dropped over the past decade, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Of those surveyed, 58 percent support higher health insurance rates for smokers, compared with 60 percent in 2011 and 65 percent in 2003, according to the poll. Gallup's July Consumption Habits Survey found 19 percent of Americans say they currently smoke, down from 25 percent in 2003.

Only 28 percent of those who had smoked in the past week felt that smokers should pay more for coverage, compared with 65 percent of those who hadn't smoked. Furthermore, 61 percent of Republicans and 56 percent of Democrats favor higher premiums for smokers.

Gallup also asked Americans whether significantly overweight individuals should pay more. Of those who consider their weight "about right," 47 percent think overweight people should have higher premiums. Only 34 percent of people who identified themselves as overweight and 38 percent of those who self-identified as underweight thought weighing more should mean higher premiums.

Gallup also found 47 percent of Republicans and 37 percent of Democrats thought higher premiums are justified for overweight health insurance consumers. According to Gallup's consumption survey, 45 percent of Americans say they are overweight.

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