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.
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.
I’ve known many healthy vegans, but I’ve also known many vegan and vegatarians who looked like religious cult members with lack of any muscle tone and lack of skin pigmentations.
I’ve also known many high protein meat eaters who look horrible and others who put vegans to shame physically and mentally.
Many of the negative comments here help to affirm my suspicion that PETA is in fact an organization secretly funded by the meat and diary industries of America. I say to PETA, well-done. Your antics are an effective way of getting people to defend meat and increase its consumption.
I would guess that most vegetarians take care in what they consume by sheer virtue of their beliefs. I would imagine that the majority do not gorge themselves on fast food or chocolate etc. and instead opt for a balanced diet.
The “non-vegetarians”, the rest of us (myself included), are not necessarily as careful. Some will go for a balanced diet (including meat) and some will go for fast food, ready meals and so on.
I would bet all my money on a varied balanced diet being key to good health, and not a “no-meat” diet specifically.
The media uses dodgy health “trials” and “studies” all the time to sell papers. Maybe, just maybe, PETA do the same?
I agree with Fran:
“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?”
Human beings are omnivores, full stop.
We have to eat both meat and vegetables, in order not to stay healthy (that’s “merely” a consequence), but because it’s WHAT WE ARE.
Now, if somebody manages to cultivate meat in a lab (I’ve heard that has already been done), and meat that tastes like real meat and has all the characteristics of real meat, I will gladly support the abolition of animal farms, slaughterhouses, or any other places were animals are cultivated for food!
Dank Jemo… well put! Respect my beliefs and I will respect yours. PETA lost it a long time ago. Animal Rights activists groups are considered to be the #1 domestic terrorist threat in America, and you wonder why with ideas like that!
I’m off to eat some really red, moooing deli meat… no time for love Dr. Jones!
All they are trying to do it get attention. It is easy to forget that they even exist so they have to stir the pot every once in a while. Must be hard to be so lame day in and day out. HMMMMMM Meat!!!
I got a better idea, how bout we send all PETA members to guantanamo bay with the rest of the people who think blowing shit up for a “cause” is a good idea? Bunch of cult terrorist freaks.