Filed in archive Ethics by leon on October 25, 2009

Another sign that the US health care system is truly screwed with reports that ambulances are jacking up fees to take the obese. The ambulance companies say transporting fat people costs 2.5 times more than normal, requiring extra people and special equipment. As a result, they've nearly doubled the fees for the obese.

Given that extremely fat people are more than likely to have heart trouble and strokes, and therefore more likely to require ambulances, it sounds like a nice little earner for the ambulance companies.

It also corresponds with Time Magazine reporting that doctors have a low opinion of fat people which means they are less likely to see a doctor and get help. Combined with higher ambulance fees, it boils down to discrimination against the obese. And that is an indictment of the US health care system.

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Permalink: Ambulances charge more for obese

Tags: ambulances obese more obese 2009 ambulances charge+more more+obese ambulances+charge

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Response from: rusty (10/26/09 11:07pm)

Ah, it really does require more people and more equipment to transport the morbidly obese (usually defined as 100% or more over ideal body weight) and there is a higher risk of injury to personnel.

Nurses battle this same problem and have too many back injuries to show for it.

I have spent a great deal of with physicians, and if they get grounchy with the obese it is because the obese often do not follow instructions (ditto for smokers) and then complain about the results.