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Bill Banning Gender Pricing in Health Insurance Advances in Sacramento
Aired 5/12/09
The California Assembly has approved a bill that would prevent insurers from charging women more than men for health coverage. Insurance companies warn the measure could drive up costs for everyone.
California — The California Assembly has approved a bill that would prevent insurers from charging women more than men for health coverage. Insurance companies warn the measure could drive up costs for everyone.
Group health insurance plans aren't allowed to charge women more than men. That prohibition does not apply to policies sold on the individual market.
One study shows California insurers charge women up to 26 percent more than men for health coverage. That's sometimes the case even with policies that don't include maternity benefits.
Insurance companies argue women should be charged more, because they tend to use more healthcare services. Insurers also say eliminating gender pricing differences could raise premiums across the board.
Critics say gender discrimination is illegal in employment and housing, and it should be in health insurance, as well.
The bill to ban the practice now moves onto the state senate.
Comments
jimvsmij | May 12, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. ― 2 years, 9 months ago
If charging women more for health insurance because they use more health care services is discrimination then charging men more for car insurance because men get into more accidents is also discrimination against men.
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MattthewCScallon | May 13, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. ― 2 years, 9 months ago
@jimvcmij, it's worse than that. Men get charged more even when the women in the same family get into more accidents. How do I know? My sister and I both were honor students. During her high school years, she totalled two cars. During the same time, I had one accident, an accident which only involved myself and snow bank, resulting in no damage to anything, including my own car. Guess who paid more for car insurance?
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jimvsmij | June 29, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. ― 2 years, 7 months ago
@MattthewCSallon That's what I'm talking about!!
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