Harvard Researchers Say Insurance Companies Invest In Fast Food Stocks

Posted in Health Insurance

April 23rd, 2010

You probably didn’t know that life insurance companies and health insurance companies the businesses that bank on your good health to take you on as clients both invest in fast food did you? Well, a team of Harvard Medical School researchers claim that a number of major life, disability and health insurance companies owned about $2 billion worth of stock in the worlds top five fast-food companies as of June 2009.

Fast Food Isn’t Healthy but It Makes Money

The team of Harvard researchers recently released a report showing that prominent European and American life insurance companies, as well as some health insurers have invested in the stocks of major fast food chains like McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell and Burger King all of which are known for selling high-fat, high-calorie meals that are associated with obesity and diabetes.

The irony is that the same companies that force you to take exams to prove how healthy you are and even reject individuals and families based pre-existing conditions are investing in companies that largely contribute to health issues.

Insurance Companies Known for Contradictory Investments

This is not the first time that Harvard researchers have revealed the unique investment activities of insurance companies. In June 2009, Harvard physicians also discovered that life insurance companies were investing billions of dollars in tobacco stocks.

In both incidences, the Harvard researchers discovered that there is a potential disconnect between the insurers missions and the stocks they’re investing in. Who knows, maybe the stocks serve as backup funds to support the lack of money coming in from people with bad health who don’t qualify for health insurance or life insurance.