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Insurance companies weighing discounts for those who quit smoking, lose weight  

Almost everyone agrees health care costs would plummet if Americans lost weight and stopped smoking. But like almost every other issue associated with health care reform, consensus hasn't been easy. . . .

The Senate Finance Committee, which is scheduled to vote on comprehensive health reform package on Tuesday, agreed earlier to allow insurance companies to provide greater savings for people who either are now healthy, or go through a stop smoking program or lose weight. It hasn't taken up proposals to tax soft drinks.

"I am a big proponent of building in healthly living incentives to health reform, " said Sen. David Vitter, R-La who has embraced a health insurance program adopted by Safeway, the supermarket chain, which the company says kept health insurance costs flat over the past five years. . . .

"I am a big proponent of building in healthly living incentives to health reform, " said Sen. David Vitter, R-La who has embraced a health insurance program adopted by Safeway, the supermarket chain, which the company says kept health insurance costs flat over the past five years.

But Vitter has some concerns.

"We don't want to penalize people for their genes, " Vitter said.

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