Recent technology makes it easier to assess genetic risks earlier, which could make some people unemployable. The following is from the New York Times:
While the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, or GINA, protects workers from being fired over their genetic test results, and the Americans With Disabilities Act protects those with active disabilities, neither law compels an employer to provide accommodations to help mitigate a person’s future health risk.
In my lifetime smoking has gone from something widely accepted and even cool to a lower status habit. According to the CDC, recognizing smoking as a health hazard and getting Americans to quit or cut back is one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th Century. A recent survey found smoking is something that only about 9% of Americans enjoy. That is the lowest on record.
If you step back and really think about it logically, health insurance is a colossal waste of money for most people. I’ve seen figures that claim that nearly 90% of Obamacare enrollees never reach their annual deductible in any given year. You spend about $7,000 per year, on average, to mitigate a risk that is statistically unlikely. Granted, insurance is supposed to be for things that are catastrophic but unlikely.
Research has shown that marriage is associated with better health and longevity, primarily in men, but some health benefits accrue to women also. Married men tend to live 2.5 years longer than single men, while married women gain 1.8 years of life. Marriage is correlated with better physical, mental, and emotional health. Of course, the results will vary by relationship quality and as mentioned above, gender.