Today I debated that people who engage in risky behaviour should pay more for health care. Here in Canada we pride ourselves on equal access to quality health care regardless of socioeconomic status so you can imagine the uproar we caused when my debate group proposed that people who smoke, drink, or engage in illegal drug use should pay more for their health care. Okay, before you jump down my throat about being “judgemental” about other peoples behaviour, I should tell you that this was an assigned topic. But here are some points of interest. Are you fellow Ontarians aware that only 57% of you are paying more for health care already? Yup, we discovered that with the Ontario Health Premium the 57% of Ontarians who make more than $20,000 a year have to pay up to $900 a year extra for health care. We thought this sounded a little unfair- especially because we pride ourselves on a system of equality and fairness. Maybe its fair that the more affluent in society take care of those who are less privileged… just a thought 
On a side note…. we also discovered that in 2002 the Canadian tax payer shouldered the burden of approximately $39.8 billion for health costs related to substance abuse (tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs mind you) Food for thought eh!
Anyways.. here’s a link to that last study I mentioned…..
That was probably a really interesting (and heated) debate. I guess it depends what you consider “risky”. What about someone who drives for a living, or someone who is obese? or a professional boxer? Or a roofer (trust me…I work with spinal cord injuries…its risky).
I guess people who smoke already kind of do pay an increase, when you factor in the massive amount of taxes to the government (whether that covers their expenses or not, I don’t know).