Insurer Sees Profits in Covering Obesity Treatment

By Patti Neighmond

Published October 20, 2004 at 9:00 PM MST

Starting next spring, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina will offer some of the most extensive coverage for obesity treatment in the nation. The insurer is betting that the cost of helping people slim down will be lower than that of treating obesity-related diseases. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.

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Patti Neighmond

Award-winning journalist Patti Neighmond is NPR's health policy correspondent. Her reports air regularly on NPR newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition.

See stories by Patti Neighmond

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The monsoon takes a break for a few days as drier air has made its way into the region, with the exception of the White Mountains region where moisture lingers and showers and thunderstorms will be possible each afternoon. Monsoonal moisture makes a gradual comeback mid to late next week.

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