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Senate directs Health Policy Commission to study lifestyle-based insurance rating after floor debate
Summary
Senate Bill 122 passed to third reading directing the Health Policy Commission to study whether health insurance premiums should be rated for lifestyle choices (tobacco, alcohol and other behaviors). Lawmakers debated scope, privacy and whether any resulting changes should be mandatory or left to the market.
Senators approved a measure on Feb. 7 asking the Health Policy Commission to study whether health insurance premiums should be rated based on certain lifestyle choices, including tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Senator Stevenson, sponsor of SB 122, said the commission should research whether the state should consider allowing rating based on behaviors that affect health-care costs. "We ought to ask the Health Policy Commission to study the advisability of rating health insurance premiums based on lifestyle choices that affect health care expenditures," Stevenson said on the floor, citing tobacco and alcohol as examples.
Supporters argued the commission is the appropriate clearinghouse to analyze complex policy, actuarial and ethical questions and to report back with recommendations. Senator Manteese said the commission has the forum and expertise: it can convene experts and review evidence before reporting to the Legislature.
Opponents and cautious voices raised concerns about scope: if the commission recommends broad lifestyle-based rating, could that extend to diet, exercise or occupational exposures? Senator May and others asked for clarity about what behaviors would be considered and how the private market would respond. Senator Tanner and other senators noted the private sector already uses some lifestyle rating and said the study should clarify whether any legislative mandate would be proposed.
The Senate recorded a vote sending SB 122 to the third-reading calendar (announced on the floor as 27 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent). The bill itself does not change law; it only directs the commission to study the topic and report back with findings and possible recommendations for future legislation.
Next steps: The Health Policy Commission will determine the scope and expert witnesses for the study and return recommendations to the Legislature; any statutory changes would require separate bills and subsequent votes.
