Dutch healthcare authorities recommend that health insurance companies charge smokers and people with unhealthy lifestyles higher premiums, national media reported.
According to Nos TV, the Dutch Healthcare Council believes people who take part in sport, take steps to reduce obesity and manage their own chronic conditions could also pay lower premiums.
"Health insurance fees should also be higher for people on better incomes," the council was quoted as saying. "This would prevent poorer people, who tend to be unhealthier, from bearing too much of the cost."
Council chairman Rien Meijerink said the Dutch health service rarely placed demands on patients' own responsibilities.
"Support for the current system of solidarity has dwindled," he said. "People are no longer willing to pay for their neighbor's bad habits."
A report by the Dutch Center for Disease Monitoring in 2009 said over one-third of Dutch healthcare costs were due to unhealthy lifestyles.
AMSTERDAM, January 30 (RIA Novosti)
