Health Care Bill Favors Marijuana and Cocaine Smokers Over Tobacco Users

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
By Karen Schuberg


Samuel Bagdorf of San Francisco, who suffers from anxiety disorders, lights his marijuana pipe at the San Francisco Medical Cannabis Clinic in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)


(CNSNews.com) - Under the Senate Finance Committee version of the health-care bill, health insurance companies would be allowed to charge tobacco users premiums up to 50 percent higher than those of non-users, while marijuana and crack cocaine smokers could not be penalized with higher premiums.

According to provisions spelled out in the Senate Finance Committee's summary of the bill--the so-called "chairman's mark"--insurance issuers selling policies to individuals could only vary premiums based on three characteristics: tobacco use, age and family composition.

Specifically, it says premiums could vary “by no more than the ratio specifiedâ€