CVS Requiring Workers To Disclose Weight, Body Fat For Health Insurance
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 NEWS) - CVS is telling its employees they must get health screenings for preventative care or pay more for the company's health coverage.
Its a controversial plan with an easily understood motive.
"They are trying to identify these patients that have glucose abnormalities or lipid hypertension abnormalities and working with them to make them healthier," said family practitioner Dr. Greg Fuller of Keller.
To do that, CVS is telling its 200,000 employees if they want to use the company health plan they must submit their weight, body fat, glucose levels and other vitals.
The goal, the company says, is to identify health problems early to save the company money in the long-run.
Many consumers who've seen the info insurance companies are looking for don't like the idea.
"I can understand maybe disclosing some things but there's a lot of things they do want to know I feel like is a violation of our privacy," said consumer Michelle Garcia who said her coworkers discuss the issue quite a bit.
CVS claimed, like other employers, it will never see the employees information.
"Most are taken to third party wellness program who takes that data and works with the patient and its not given to their employer," Dr. Fuller said.
But, other large companies offer incentives like discounts for the screening information.
CVS says if its employees don't get screened, they'll have to pay $50 a month more for health coverage --- $600 a year.
"I would be upset with that because you're kind of forced to give them personal information about yourself and about your lifestyle and about how you choose to live your life," Garcia said.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. )
Also Check Out:
- Emmitt Smith Says New Safety Rule Means NFL Has "Lost Its Mind"
- Deion Sanders Divorce Drama Gets Nastier With Steroid Allegations
- Woman Defends Beating Son Caught In Homosexual Act
- Dallas Hospital Offers Free Facial Surgery For African Girl
- Good Samaritan Critically Injured Helping Driver
MOST VIEWED GALLERIES
- PHOTOS: Your Pet Pictures
- PHOTOS: 105.3 The Fan In New Orleans - Day 5
- PHOTOS: Top 10 Cars We Miss
