Weight loss insurance policy rewards dieters, divides commenters

2022-07-18

An insurance company has launched the first insurance policy designed to encourage weight loss! The plan gives customers incremental discounts if they lose weight, or maintain a healthy weight. The product has ignited fierce debate online, with some saying it could be motivational, and others saying it’s the wrong approach.

A delicious mango cake followed by a full cup of milky latte. Watching TV with friends and enjoying some snacks. Lots of people became couch potatoes during the pandemic, and it doesn’t take much to start gaining weight.

Member of public
Sometimes I don’t eat three regular meals a day. So it’s easy for me to gain weight. Right now I think I weigh almost 100 kilos, and I’d like to lose 10 kilos.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 2021, almost 48% of Taiwanese adults were overweight or obese. A BMI of 24 or above is considered overweight. One canny insurance company has launched the first weight loss insurance policy. Your fees go down by 1% for every kilo you lose, up to 20% of the total. If you maintain a healthy weight, and renew the policy after a year, you automatically get a 20% discount. It’s an elaborate motivational tactic.

Member of public
It would provide a bit more motivation. You shouldn’t do it for the money – that’s kind of superficial.

Member of public
I’ve maintained the same weight for more than 20 years. I would think I’d won if I bought this insurance. I’d just keep my weight down and the insurance fees would be cheaper.

Weng Chien-hsun
Insurance industry
We want to really be there with our clients, as they manage their weight and achieve their goals of a healthy BMI.

The company says lots of customers are eager to try the policy. On social media, commenters have joked that it’s adding insult to injury for folk who just can’t find a way to slim down. One commenter said they were saving up 30 years of fat just for this very moment. Whether the policy helps people protect their health or just gives them a good chuckle, it’s certainly got them talking.

業者推全台首張減重保單減1公斤保費少1%

2022-07-18

衛福部統計，2021年國人十大死因中，就有八項與肥胖相關，而成人過重和肥胖比率高達47.9%，相當於每兩人就有一人體重過重。有保險公司就推出業界第一張減重保單，體重過重，也就是BMI達24以上的民眾，體重只要減少1公斤，保費就減少1%，最高打到8折，成功在網路上掀起熱議。

甜滋滋的芒果蛋糕，大口塞進嘴裡，再配上一整杯拿鐵，追劇看電影，嘴可是沒閒過，不少人疫情宅在家，變身沙發馬鈴薯，體重一不小心就回去了。

[[民眾]]
“飲食三餐偶爾也會不正常，所以相對的變胖的機率會比較高，目前(體重)大概接近100左右，目前想要降低10公斤”

衛福部統計，2021年成人過重和肥胖比率高達47.9%，BMI只要24以上就是體重過重。有保險公司腦筋動得快，推出業界第一張減重保單，體重過重的民眾，體重只要減少1公斤，保費就減少1%，最高打到8折。除此之外，維持在健康範圍民眾，第二年續保，也有8折優惠，讓想減肥的民眾，更有動力。

[[民眾]]
“就稍微比較有一點動力啦，不要說為了錢，這樣有點膚淺”

[[民眾]]
“像我的體重已經維持20幾年了，我就覺得如果買了這個保單的時候，就覺得好像有點賺到了，就繼續維持下去，保費也會比較便宜”

[[保險商品部協理翁建勳]]
“希望可以真的達到陪伴客戶，做好體重管理，那達到健康BMI 這樣的目標”

不少人已經躍躍欲試，甚至有網友在粉專上留言，搞笑地說，「就已經減不了了還刺激我！」也有人回，「我囤積了30年的肥肉，終於等到這保單問世了」，也讓這張減重保單，成功引發熱議。