Polk County is trying to put a match
under its employees who smoke, to stop. Starting January 1, smokers will have
to pay close to $700 more in health care premiums unless they take a stop
smoking class.
Even if they don't kick the habit after the class, the
smokers won't have to pay the new higher premium.
"Our hope is that we are going to get them a little closer
to that goal," Polk's Human Resource's Director Anthony Casas told FOX 13 on
Monday.
The new initiative is an attempt at keeping soaring health
care and medical costs down.
Polk County self-insures about 7,000
people, including employees and their families. It spends $35 million a year.
Watch the video above to see Ken Suarez' full report.
