After 2013, Law Limits Surcharges for Health Insurance

So fit people can expect their premiums to rise

The 69 percent of American adults who are overweight or obese and the 19 percent of us who smoke pay more for health insurance because of the risks associated. People with a body mass index of 30 or higher, considered obese, pay on average 22 percent more to buy health insurance in the individual market, according to data (PDF) released this week by eHealthInsurance.com, based on more than 200,000 policies sold through the online brokerage for 2012.

Tobacco users pay an extra 14 percent, though women who smoke pay even more: an extra $44 a month on average, or 22 percent more than nonsmokers.