CVS Pharmacy Wants to Know Employees’ Weight and Body Fat Or They Will Be Charged a Fine
March 21, 2013 8:00 PM 
CVS Pharmacy is requiring all employees to submit their weight, body fat, cholesterol and other vitals if they use the company’s health plan. If they refuse to submit the information, they will be charged an additional $50 per month for their insurance. On one hand, with rising health insurance costs, I can understand why they want this, but on the other hand, it’s very scary and brings up many privacy issues. Employees that agree to have a health screening will see no change in their insurance costs, but refusing the screenings will cost them. By the way, paying $50 a month more for insurance works to $600 per year.
The employees are being asked to provide this information by May 1, 2014 or risk paying more for the company health plan if they refuse. Needless to say, privacy advocates are up in arms over this policy and believe information like weight and body fat is personal information that does not have to be shared. What are they going to do with that information?
Once this information is obtained, you know it is going into a giant database, which means that information could get into the wrong hands and that is what everyone is reeling about and some fear this will lead to the company firing sick workers.
Patient Privacy Rights founder Dr. Deborah Peel said, “The approach they’re taking is based on the assumption that somehow these people need a whip, they need to be penalized in order to make themselves healthy.” Peel added that “It’s technology-enhanced discrimination on steroids.”
The information will be obtained through health screenings that CVS says are voluntary, but if you don’t want to pay an additional $600 a year for insurance, you really have no choice. CVS also says the company will never see the results and their goal is to help employees take more responsibility for improving their health and managing health costs.
One of the big questions I have is what happens to an employee whose health screening revealed they were at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke? They could be fired, according to some advocates and that is scary.
Just because someone’s cholesterol is high, does not automatically mean their health is in danger…a lot of that has more to do with genetics than anything else. I personally would pay the $50 a month and tell them to shove their health screening. I don’t want my personal information in some database that could cost me my present job, or keep me from getting a new job. It just feels very wrong. This will be a raging debate for sure.
Brett Eldredge Wraps Red Tour Dates, Shares What He Learned From Taylor Swift
For 20 minutes on Thursday night (May 16), Brett Eldredge owned the crowd that was still trickling into Houston's Toyota Center to see perhaps the biggest tour of the year -- Taylor Swift's 2013 Red Tour. It was a short set for the country newcomer, but like he did at each of the other 18 shows he played with the superstar, he maxed out every second, walking onstage armed with ammo given to him by his grandfather and Swift herself.
‘The Baby Bachelor’ Brings Cute to Reality TV Thanks to Jimmy Kimmel
May 21, 2013 4:06 AM I love Jimmy Kimmel! But now, I love him even more. With reality shows everywhere, on every channel, leave it to Jimmy to come up with the best parody EVER!!! Jimmy, along with his brother, nephew and some lovely and hilarious toddler girls have come up with 'The Baby Bachelor'. Trust me, you will enjoy THIS much more that you ever did 'The Bachelor'.
Henderson March For Babies 2013 [PHOTOS]
May 20, 2013 11:30 PM The 2013 March for Babies in Henderson County was held Saturday in Central Park, and hundreds of walkers held off the rain to raise big money for the March of Dimes.
Aftermath of Oklahoma Tornado in Photos
A massive tornado touched down just south of Oklahoma City on Monday, killing dozens.
At least seven of those killed were students at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. The twister, which measured 2 miles at one point, has been given a preliminary classification of an EF-4 tornado (winds of 166 to 200 mph), according to weather officials.
New Study Says What You Talk About on Facebook Reveals Your Age and Gender
May 20, 2013 8:00 PM A new study has revealed that a pretty detailed picture of ordinary people can be created simply by looking at the topics we discuss on Facebook and other social media. It should be no surprise that we develop new interests as we mature or more specifically, age. Men and women talk about the the same things on social media, only at different times in their lives.
How You Can Help Victims of the Tornado in Oklahoma
A huge tornado touched down just outside of Oklahoma City earlier today, causing widespread destruction and leaving behind a yet-untold number of casualties.
To see how you can help those affected, see the list below
Holiday World Recreate A Memory Winner – Take You For A Ride On My Little Green Tractor
May 20, 2013 6:00 PM All summer long we are giving you the chance to recreate any memories you've made at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari over the last 60 plus years. Today's memory winner is Tammy Miles from Newburgh!
Massive Tornado Destroys Area Near Oklahoma City; At Least 51 Killed [UPDATED]
An enormous tornado with a debris cloud two miles wide tore through the metropolitan area just south of Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon.
UPDATE 9:28 p.m. EST: At least 51 people were killed in the storm, including seven children from Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, according to KFOR in Oklahoma City. The news station reported that 75 student and staff were inside the school when the storm struck. Officials said Monday night that the search of the rubble remaining of the school had turned to a recovery mission.
WWE Supershow 5-18-13 Evansville, IN – Results And Photos
May 20, 2013 4:00 PM The WWE rolled into the Ford Center, Saturday night, May 18th for a Supershow card pack with some of the biggest Superstars in the business.
YouTube Kicks Off Comedy Week With Some of the Web’s Funniest People
If you're a fan of comedy you've surely found yourself inundated with commercials and promotions for YouTube's Comedy Week. Well, the wait is over because it's finally arrived.