PETA Suggests Higher Insurance Rates For Meat Eaters
Due to studies suggesting vegetarians have stronger immune systems and are 40% less likely to get cancer, as well as recent outbreaks of E.coli traced to a Vermont slaughterhouse, PETA is urging Blue Cross of Vermont to lower insurance rates for vegetarians, while increasing those for meat eaters.
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To make the point, PETA’s Executive Director Tracy Reiman sent a letter to Bill Milnes Jr., president of Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Vermont.
“Given the latest news about the effects of E.coli on meat-eaters — and the mountain of evidence linking meat consumption to some of our nation’s deadliest diseases — this change will benefit Blue Cross Blue Shield’s bottom line while also helping to ensure that your policyholders don’t flat line,” Reiman wrote.
“By giving your policyholders a financial incentive to go vegetarian – and penalizing those whose meat-based diets fuel our nation’s worst health problems – Blue Cross Blue Shield can save millions of dollars in the long run as your members begin to require fewer cholesterol-lowering medications, chemotherapy treatments, and diabetes drugs,” the letter concluded.
But according to Kevin Goddard, vice president of external affairs for Blue Cross, it doesn’t appear they’ll be taking PETA’s suggestion any time soon.
“Under Vermont law, we would not be allowed to vary rates based on the dietary and nutritional habits of various members.” he said.
Along with a “guaranteed issue” law that requires insurers to offer coverage for all persons in the state, the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration web site also lists a “community rating,” which stops the companies from making a person pay more for their coverage because of age, location or health condition.
Photo Credit: jenn_jenn on Flickr under Creative Commons license.
Thanks for the mention! Learn more about why going veg is the best thing for you, the animals, and the environment at http://www.GoVeg.com.
what about the E.Coli infected spinach fiasco?
Wow, every day PETA seems to be more like a cult.
First telling Ben and Jerry’s to make their ice cream with women’s breast milk, now this? What the fuck is wrong with them?
Gee, that kind of sounds like some very unAmerican discrimination. Should I take this to mean that PETA encourages discrimination of fellow American citizens based on their lifestyles or preferences? I’ve always been very suspicious of PETA. I’m sorry, but you’ve got to be glad that the legislature isn’t going along with that pile of bull-droppings.
Spinach anyone?
[...] from making a person pay more for their coverage because of age, location or health condition. PETA Suggests Higher Insurance Rates For Meat Eaters : Eat. Drink. Better. *groans* Here we go again with the PETA! What about the tomatoes… the spinach… and those [...]
First suggesting that Ben & Jerry’s use women’s breast milk, now this? PETA needs to realize they’re just a self-serving organization and they do no good for anyone. Do they even stop to think that not all people who are fortunate enough to have health insurance can afford to be hippy-vegetable-eating-prius-driving snobs like those PETA-holes. If you want to be a vegetarian, fine… but I’ll do my best to cancel out your non-meat-eating-ness.
This is ludacris. PETA is just putting out some sensational press relaease to get headlines. How about we create a registry and increase the health insurance rates for anyone who has a family to feed on a budget and eats Hamburger Helper? Or buys a turkey for Thanksgiving? Or a beef roast for Christmas?
I wonder how much disposible income these PETA vegitarians in Vermont have…maybe they can buy my groceries! And they can carry the grocery bags home in their Volvo station wagons while we listen to music from their iPhones. gimme a break, get in touch with the rest of your country!!!!!!!!1
This is silly. If PETA didn’t have an agenda, why aren’t they asking for LOWER rates for vegetarians instead of higher rates for meat eaters?
Well, that settles it. I told my self the next time PETA does something idiotic that i would buy a huge steak. Looks like im having some meat with a side of meat tonight. Thanks PETA! Studies have been done and those who do not eat any meat, well, they’re brain shrinks… what deos that say to you?