An interesting bill has come up in the Colorado legislature that would give health insurance for improvements in a person's health, such as weight loss, lowering cholesterol, being involved in a wellness program, or the quitting of smoking.  "People respond to incentives," said Rep. Joe Rice, a Littleton Democrat sponsoring the bill up for debate at the Capitol, to The Denver Post. "When people start doing something they weren't before . . . like walk 100 miles . . . it becomes kind of a habit and a culture and a thought."

This is a great incentive for Colorado residents, and a great means to get people to look at getting healthier, for anything that affects one's pocketbook usually causes action.  Exercise and being health conscious will obviously result in a healthier lifestyle, which, in turn, could drive down visits to the clinic or hospitals.  This would effectively cut costs, and could be a great model for other states.

The key is prevention, and this is a great step towards that.  To be healthy is the goal, and to prevent illness and sickness caused by an unhealthy choices and decisions, and those can be influenced if there is a monetary reward in making the right choice.  Good work Colorado legislatures, good work.