A Health Care Incentive

Recently I had a conversation with a retired person about the value of exercise. This man was about 70 years old. I noticed that he looked very healthy and lean compared to other people around him. I asked him if he exercised to stay fit. He proudly stated that he does daily brisk walks in the morning for 1 hour. He elaborated and added that his health care provider pays for his gym membership. This could only be because his insurance company recognizes the value of preventive medicine that will result in higher profits for the insurance company.
This conversation caused me to think about the incentive insurance companies can provide their clients to stay healthy. A free gym membership? That sounds very interesting to me. This person I talked to was retired and may have some special retirement plan. This same tactic could provide incentive or people to purchase truly affordable or possibly free health insurance for those who qualify.
There are approximately 12.3 million unemployed people in the United States. The general rule is that when you lose your job, you typically will lose your health insurance that your employer typically pays. Despite President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March, the number of Americans without medical insurance continues to grow and is 50 million nationwide.
The two things that we always hear from medical experts is that it is possible to prevent many of the major health problems with better diet and exercise. Some of the major health problems that could be prevented with improved diet and exercise are obesity, heart disease, and diabetes to name just of few.
Here are some facts from http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/physicalactivity.html.
More than 60% of US adults do not engage in the recommended amount of activity.
Approximately 25% of US adults are not active at all.
A 1993 study concerning causes of death in the US: #1 Tobacco, #2 Lack of exercise/poor diet, #3 Alcohol.
Chronic disease costs the US $655 Billion in healthcare costs. In this year, 1.5 million people will have a heart attack in the US and 500,000 will die.

With these statistics in mind. I think we need to provide an incentive for people to exercise and have access to a healthier diet.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Health Insurance companies pay for health club membership dues if their client uses the club more that 3 times per week. This would provide incentive to join a fitness program. Many gyms memberships are between $35-50 per month. I would suggest that the gyms who's memberships costs are below $50 per month would be able to qualify.
2. I would recommend an annual fitness test to show that someone has not digressed in fitness. These tests could provide the certification for the insurance discount. This is not a new concept. In fact, the US navy has fitness requirement to be in the service. For example, for males 17-39 years of age, it is required that you be less than 22 percent body fat. http://www.military.com/military-fitness/navy-fitness-requirements/navy-body-composition-assessment.
3. A significant discount for abstaining from alcohol and tobacco. Another discount if you voluntarily go to a testing that will prove that you are not consuming excessive alcohol and are not using tobacco products.
4. I would also provide the option of going in for a blood test. I recently had a blood test which was sent to a lab for a complete blood profile. My doctor gave me an A+ on my blood reading. My doctor told me that my diet and exercise habits can have a profound effect on many readings such as red blood cells, lipid levels, vitamin levels, and immunity. Currently I participate in about 1 hour of exercise 5 times per week, a maintain a very healthy diet that includes many organic fruits and vegetables, no prescription drugs, and no tobacco and very little alcohol.
5. Insurance company to provide coupons for purchasing organic fresh fruits and vegetables.
I might even make it my life goal to create a health insurance company with the following mission statement.
Providing incentive to prevent illness. We will pay for your healthy diet and exercise because it will cost more for you and our company if you don't.