I was having a conversation with my insurance agent recently, and she brought up biometric screening as a way to save money on premiums. She said that if I agreed to have my health information collected and shared with the company, I could get a discount. I was intrigued, but I also wondered if there could be any downside to this. Could I lose my health insurance because of biometric screening? Here’s what I found out.
What is biometric screening?
biometric screening is a test that measures an individual’s physical characteristics. These measurements can include height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and blood pressure. The results of biometric screenings are used to calculate an individual’s risk for developing certain health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Biometric screenings are often conducted as part of a workplace wellness program. They may also be required by some health insurance plans as a condition of coverage. In some cases, individuals who do not meet the requirements of their health insurance plan may be required to pay higher premiums or be denied coverage altogether.
While biometric screenings can be helpful in identifying individuals at risk for developing chronic diseases, they are not perfect. Some healthy people may be incorrectly identified as being at high risk, while others with chronic illnesses may not be identified as being at risk at all. As such, it is important to discuss the results of any biometric screening with a healthcare provider to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to maintain or improve one’s health.
How do health insurers use biometric screening?
Health insurers have long used biometric screening to help them assess an individual’s health risk and set premiums accordingly. In recent years, however, some insurers have begun using biometric data to deny coverage or charge higher rates to those deemed to be at greater risk for certain conditions.
While most health insurers do not currently use biometric data to deny coverage, some experts believe that this may become more common in the future as the use of such data becomes more widespread. If you are concerned that your health insurer may use biometric data to deny you coverage or charge you higher rates, you may want to consider switching to a policy that does not use such information.
What are the risks of biometric screening?
The risks of biometric screening include the potential for false negatives, which could lead to missed diagnoses, and false positives, which could result in unnecessary treatment. There is also the possibility that biometric data could be used to discriminate against people with certain health conditions.
What are the benefits of biometric screening?
There are many benefits of biometric screening, including early detection of disease, more accurate diagnosis, and improved health outcomes. Biometric screening can also lead to reduced healthcare costs and improved productivity.
How to opt out of biometric screening
There are a few ways that you can opt out of biometric screening if you do not want to participate. You can usually opt out by simply not completing the health questionnaire or by refusing to have your height, weight, or blood pressure measured. If you are asked to provide a blood or urine sample, you can decline. You may be able to request an alternate method of screening, such as a finger stick test for blood sugar instead of a fasting blood sugar test.
If you are not comfortable with any type of biometric screening, you can ask your employer for an accommodation. For example, you could request to have your health information kept confidential or to have the screenings done in a private area. You may also be able to opt out of biometric screenings if they are not job-related or if they would violate your religious beliefs.
Conclusion
Although biometric screening could lead to higher premiums for some people, it is important to remember that this is just one factor that insurers consider when setting rates. There are many other factors that go into determining your health insurance premium, so it is unlikely that you will lose your coverage entirely due to biometric screening. However, if you are concerned about the impact of biometric screening on your premium, be sure to talk to your insurer about all of the factors that they consider when setting rates.
