San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against the State of California over a law that allows health insurance companies to charge women higher premiums than men. Women pay as much as 39% more than men for the same coverage, and the law allows it. Insurance companies get away with it because they claim that women in their child bearing years use more health care than men.
Actually, the practice known as 'gender rating' is more common than we might think. Currently 38 states allow it, and two more allow it on a restricted basis. The California insurance commissioner's office stated that because the state legislature explicitly allows gender to be a factor when pricing insurance, their office must uphold the law.
Women's health advocates state that the same sex discrimination that applies to women on the job should apply when women are looking for health insurance on their own. They point to the fact that the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission forbids employers from charging women higher premiums than men, based on gender alone.
Dennis Herrera, San Francisco City Attorney stated that the unfair and inflated premiums imposed on women price them out of the health care market and they can't afford health insurance. This is causing them to get their health care from city clinics and San Francisco General Hospital, causing an additional financial burden on the City.
That women have to turn to the public health care system because they have been priced out of the private market is telling, says Herrera. There have been two bills introduced into the state legislature since December which address the issue, AB 119 and SB 54. Herrera states that he will drop the suit if either of these two bills passes. One side states that this is nothing more than sound business practices, while the other questions how it can be anything other than discrimination.
Actually, the practice known as 'gender rating' is more common than we might think. Currently 38 states allow it, and two more allow it on a restricted basis. The California insurance commissioner's office stated that because the state legislature explicitly allows gender to be a factor when pricing insurance, their office must uphold the law.
Women's health advocates state that the same sex discrimination that applies to women on the job should apply when women are looking for health insurance on their own. They point to the fact that the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission forbids employers from charging women higher premiums than men, based on gender alone.
Dennis Herrera, San Francisco City Attorney stated that the unfair and inflated premiums imposed on women price them out of the health care market and they can't afford health insurance. This is causing them to get their health care from city clinics and San Francisco General Hospital, causing an additional financial burden on the City.
That women have to turn to the public health care system because they have been priced out of the private market is telling, says Herrera. There have been two bills introduced into the state legislature since December which address the issue, AB 119 and SB 54. Herrera states that he will drop the suit if either of these two bills passes. One side states that this is nothing more than sound business practices, while the other questions how it can be anything other than discrimination.
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