N.C. to penalize obese workers, those who smoke

Wrong. It is not a penalty. It is a reflection of the increased risk at which these people voluntarily put themselves - expecting the rest of us to pay for it.

"North Carolina is poised to become only the second state to penalize state employees by placing them in a more expensive health insurance plan if they're obese.

Smokers will feel the drag of higher costs, too, as North Carolina and South Carolina state employees who use tobacco are slated to pay more for health insurance next year.

N.C. officials, coping with a steady uptick in health care costs for state employees each year, are aiming to improve state workers' health, which saves money in medical expenses.

'Tobacco use and poor nutrition and inactivity are the leading causes of preventable deaths in our state,' said Anne Rogers, director of integrated health management with the N.C. State Employees Health Plan. 'We need a healthy workforce in this state. We're trying to encourage individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles.'

State workers who don't cut out the Marlboros and Big Macs will end up paying more for health insurance. Tobacco users get placed in a more expensive insurance plan starting in July and, for those who qualify as obese, in July 2011."

Kudos, NC.

The only mistake is waiting until next year and 2011.