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Playing devils advocate here for a second but not every fat (clinically obese) person is that way through personal choice. There have been a number of studies that have identified a genetic causes for obesity beyond lifet style choices. Is it far to tax them for being obese but not tax someone who has cancer? In both cases there is a genetic condition beyond the individuals control and both place an undue burden on the health care system. Why is it fair to tax one and not the other, outside of the perception that the cancer patient is a victim and the obese person is a fat lazy slob?
I'd be willing to bet next months mortgage that there are a number of exceptionally fit people, including some Quiet Professionals on this board, who would have to pay extra under this proposed system. The system uses your BMI to judge if you are obese or not. The main failing with the BMI is that it doesn't take into account your muscle mass. Lets take for example a 5'11" 225 pound male with less than 10% body fat, runs daily, lifts weights, has normal blood pressure. This person has a BMI of 31 and would be considered "obese".
Don't get me wrong, there is a real serious issue at play here and it needs to be addressed, but their approach has to be far more nuanced than it is. It seems to me that they didn't give this plan much thought.
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