Little-Known Dangers of Being Fat
I make no secret of the fact that I am seriously overweight. At 5’1″ and 200 pounds, with a “petite” build, I could stand to lose about 75 pounds. Other than the difficulties with finding clothing that fits properly, it doesn’t really cause too much inconvenience in my life.
Until 18 August 2003, that is, when I finished my application for a personal health insurance policy. I called the agent to find out how much I needed to send in for my first premium payment, and he asked about health problems. I reported allergies, and he said that wasn’t a problem. Then he asked the fatal question. “The only thing that usually bumps a premium up is cholesterol or height and weight problems. What are your height and weight?”
So I answered. That was it. That extra poundage skyrocketed me from the $90 a month premium level to the $190 level. A hundred extra smackers for being 75 pounds over the poundage lines. Heavens! What next?!