Get Paid To Eat Right

[jeffrey]

You get a discount your health insurance if you don't smoke. You get a discount on your health insurance if you don't drink. In the near future, you may get a discount on your health insurance for eating certain types of food.

In what may be a sneak peak of future health insurance practice, the Dutch health insurer VGZ announced Tuesday that it has decided to reimburse policyholders who eat specific cholesterol-reducing margarine, yogurt and milk products.

It is believed to be the first time that an insurance company would subsidize food rather than medicine. VGZ hopes that by subsidizing these cholesterol reducing foods it will reduce heart disease while also cutting drug and hospital costs.




Under the new plan, policyholders would be allowed to claim up to a maximum of approximately $54 a year to refund purchases of Becel pro-active products. The products are produced by Unilever NV/Plc and medical studies have shown that when consumed they cut cholesterol levels.