CVS Pharmacy is reportedly requiring all employees on its health plan to provide health information or face paying a monthly fine.
ABC News reports the company wants workers who participate in the company’s health insurance program to submit their weight, body fat and glucose levels to their insurer.
Workers who don’t comply with the new rule will be forced to pay an extra $50 per month for the company’s health insurance program. Those who do comply will see no change in their insurance rates.
The company reportedly said it would pay for the health screening, and that participation was voluntary. Company officials defended the use of health screenings as a common practice. A company spokesman said the information provided would be kept private and would not be accessible by CVS Caremark.
The Boston Herald reports opponents call the practice coercive and invasive, and an indication of the level of economic fear businesses have of workers with costly health conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
CVS employees have until May 1, 2013 to make the health screening appointment to be in compliance.
CVS Caremark employs about 200,000 people and more than 6,000 stores, making it the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S.
