Final answer:
Lower health insurance rates for non-smokers are a utilitarian reinforcer, providing a material reward that encourages healthier behaviors and counteracts moral hazard effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lower health insurance rates for non-smokers is an example of a utilitarian type of reinforcer. This is because the reduced rates serve as a material reward that incentivizes individuals to maintain a healthier lifestyle by not smoking. These kinds of rates leverage the principles of moral hazard by encouraging better personal health habits, thereby potentially reducing the likelihood of increased healthcare costs associated with smoking-related illnesses.
Moreover, such policies may actively contribute to a change in behavior amongst insured individuals by providing financial predictability and a strong incentive to avoid the health risks associated with smoking. These types of programs are known to counteract the effects described by moral hazard where people are less concerned with engaging in risky health behaviors knowing that they have insurance coverage for potential illnesses or injuries.