Senator Wants to Tie Behavior to Health Insurance

Insurance companies and HMOs in Michigan would be required to offer financial incentives that reward people for healthy behavior under legislation introduced Thursday in the state Senate. Sen. Tom George, a Portage Republican and practicing physician, said the state is facing a public health crisis steeped in poor dieting, smoking and a lack of exercise. Under George's plan, employers or individuals buying health insurance could receive up to a 10 percent rebate for taking better care of themselves.