Smokers Need Higher Health Care Premiums Essay

To start off with the first negative effect of smoking is that it is extremely bad for your health. In 2004, a Study by the CDC 's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion found that cigarette smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Such as Acetaldehyde, Beryllium (a toxic metal), Butadiene (a hazardous gas), Cadmium (a toxic metal) these are just a few of

We have all been there in line waiting to purchase something from the store; we step up for our turn take out money that we believe should be enough only to find out that we forgot to count in the taxes and now have to dig into our purse, wallet or pocket to find the extra change, or in some cases dollars. There is a joke that there are a few things we are guaranteed in life, taxes and death. While it may be a joke it holds a fair amount of truth, depending on where you live. Taxes are everywhere “invisible” or obvious taxes, but lets focus more closely on the taxes involving cigarettes. To me as a non smoker it makes sense and I am for it, taxes help the governments budget and other areas. However one must begin to wondered the effects taxes on one of the biggest markets in the United States have, for those who do smoke and those who enjoy an, excuse my banter, but live shaver.

Smoking-related illnesses like emphysema and lung cancer place an enormous drain on the system, and are mostly preventable.” (Livestrong.com Par 1) People do not want to pay taxes for those that will abuse

Healthy People 2020 is a movement in America which was started in 1979 and provides 10 year national objectives based on science for promoting health and preventing diseases. It sets and monitors health objectives and tries to influence individuals to make informed health decisions. With such kind of objectives, smoking becomes a big health concern to Healthy People 2020. Smoking affects national health and causes health disparities. Smoking has been associated with a number of health complications such as cancer and heart diseases. Under Healthy People 2010 issues such as smoking during pregnancy and cigarette smoking cessation were to be addressed.

The money spent by the government for Medicaid, in my opinion, has already been paid for. The real victims would be those who have had the illnesses or who have died as a direct result of smoking. However, only if those victims began smoking before the effects were brought to the public's attention.

This figure is up 1billion pounds when compared to the same figure last year, which was 1.7billion. And the only reason it is not higher is because so many smokers have given up in recent years – a fall from 12 million to 9 million. Also the government has made significant cuts to the healthcare budget (Around £800million between 2010 and 2012) (BBC News Channel, 2009). Therefore, the NHS should not pay for smoking related diseases. However, firstly, Smokers contributed to the UK economy by 10billion According to statistics from the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) in the 2006/07 financial year in revenue tax (Tma, 2017). According to lobby group forest argues that smokers pay over £9billion a year in tobacco tax. It has also been claimed that the government has made tobacco manufacturers not allowed to have any kind of trademarks on any of their smoking product its illegal. It has been stated tax revenue from tobacco in 2012/2013 amounted to £12.3billion - £9.7billion in excise duty plus 2.6billion in VAT. In addition, on a usual box of 20 cigarettes the total tax burden of £6.98 accounts for 82% of the recommended retail price (RRP) of £8.50. On some of the least expensive brands the total tax burden accounts for up to 90% of the RRP (Tma, 2017). Therefore, the NHS should pay for smoking related diseases as smokers have already contributed by paying taxes on tobacco and taxes that go to the NHS

History has proven that government penalties, in the form of taxes, deter smoking. The 2000 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, Reducing Tobacco Use, found that raising tobacco-product prices decreases the prevalence of tobacco use, and tobacco tax increases produce significant long-term improvements in health. From its review of existing research, the report concluded that raising tobacco taxes is one of the most effective tobacco prevention and control strategies (7). Along with price increases, mass-media campaigns and smoking bans have made cigarette smoking pretty much unacceptable in today’s society. “Today, approximately 22 percent of adults age twenty-two and older are smokers, compared with 33 percent in 1979” (Thorpe 1440). It is clear, from these examples, the use of penalties to deter the unhealthy behavior of smoking is a successful intervention.

People that smoke are the people that get all the unhealthy stuff in a body like cancer and many diseases that can be caused.“If smoking persists at the current rate among young adults in this country, 5.6 million of today’s Americans younger than 18 years of age are projected to die prematurely from a smoking-related illness. Another 100,000 were babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome (often referred to as SIDS) or complications from prematurity, low birth weight, or other conditions caused by parental smoking, particularly smoking by the mother. “Smoking has been around for a long time. The problem with smoking became worse when “production climbed markedly when another cigarette-making machine was developed in the 1880s by James Albert Bonsack, which vastly increased the productivity of cigarette companies, which went from making about 40,000 hand-rolled cigarettes daily to around 4 million.” Smoking is a problem around the world because it causes lung cancer, many other cancers, and some horrible diseases. This problem should be solved because “More than 10 times as many U.S. citizens have died prematurely from cigarette smoking than have died in all the wars fought by the United States during its history.”

Dollar protection better then millions treatment! We all know how can smoking affect us negatively, but did we ask our self why people start to smoke? I think if we find an answer to that question we could minimize the number of smoky people. There is a lot of reasons lead people to smoke, such as friends, parents,

The purpose of this economics report is to illustrate the economic concerns and arguments around smoking in Australia and the methods of taxing aimed at reducing the smoking rate. The report will use a variety of research articles, economic theories and models to report on this issue so that the CEO of the Cancer Council of Australia has a thorough understanding.

That is the only reason why cigarettes are legal. The government makes billions of dollars a year from selling cigarettes. About 25% of the cost of a pack of cigarettes goes to federal and local revenue. They

Smoking is an expensive habit. People who smoke cigarettes can spend as much as $2,500 a year on them. Smokers’ claim that it helps relax them and it releases stress but the negative aspects of smoking outweigh the positive. Smoking is a health hazard for smokers and non-smokers. Smokers should have the right to choose what to do with their own health but they should respect non-smokers. Many people believe that there are good and bad outcomes from smoking. I believe that smoking is bad and that it should be banned.

In this economy, it is very difficult to make ends meet. Both my partner and I smoke and we try to save money on tobacco by going to discount tobacco stores. For now, this is helpful, but with the taxes constantly being raised, the way we have budgeted for tobacco along with our cost of living could be negatively impacted. Current cigarette prices are too high and I strongly oppose new taxes on tobacco products.

To begin let’s talk about the many, many health risks that are caused from smoking. I’ll start off with the biggest consequence smoking causes. Cancer. According to the CDC.gov website, nine out of ten lung cancers are caused from smoking cigarettes. And although lung cancer is the most common cancer associated with smoking, it is definitely not the only one. Smoking can cause cancer anywhere in the body. From the mouth to the colon, nothing is safe from cancer when you smoke. According to betobaccofree.gov, the chemicals in cigarettes harm your blood cells and damage your heart, increasing your likelihood of developing aneurysms, cardiovascular disease, Coronary heart disease, and strokes. Smokers also develop mouth sores and ulcers and as stated on deltadentalins.com, smokers are about 4 times more likely than non-smokers to develop gum disease. Smokers experience muscle deterioration because blood and oxygen are restricted and can’t reach the muscles.

Nicotine use is a leading preventable cause of death in the world, directly and indirectly responsible for 440,000 deaths per year. The health problems that result in tobacco use tally an annual of $75 billion in direct medical costs (Slovic 36). That money spent on medical problems for smokers should be used to pay for more important things in our society such as schools, libraries, childcare, etc.