Should I pay for your risky behaviours? Evidence from London

What is it about?

Weinvestigate the extent to which respondents froma general population sample in London (July–August 2011) agree or disagree with the NHS covering the healthcare costs related to five risky health behaviours: overeating, unhealthy diet, sedentary life, excess of alcohol, and smoking. For each behaviour, we also directly explore the main factors associated with the likelihood to agree or disagree. Half of the respondents (N = 146) manifest agreement with the idea. Wider agreement exists for covering the costs associated smoking, heavy drinking, and sedentary lives than with overeating, or poor diets. With the exception of alcohol drinking and sedentary life, there is an almost one-to-one relationship between the agreement that the NHS should pay the healthcare costs associated with a specific behaviour, and the respondents' actual engagement in that behaviour. Those at higher risk of depending on publicly funded healthcare, are more likely to agree.

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Why is it important?

Health care costs are rising and the pressure on public health care providers to contain costs is increasing. Life style is important to reduce health-related risks. It is important to know what are the general public feelings about paying for the health care costs that may be mainly caused by unhealthy lifestyles