SO WHY ARE WE GOING TO FORCE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO PAY OUT TO SMOKERS?:

U.S. Report Links Smoking Bans and Heart Health (PAM BELLUCK, 10/15/09, NY Times)

Smoking bans in places like restaurants, offices and public buildings reduce cases of heart attacks and heart disease, according to a report released Thursday by a federally commissioned panel of scientists.

The report, issued by the Institute of Medicine, concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke significantly increased the risk of having a heart attack among both smokers and nonsmokers. The panel also said it found that a reduction in heart problems began to take effect fairly quickly after a smoking ban was instituted and that exposure to low or fleeting levels of secondhand smoke could cause cardiovascular problems.