Tom Z
|
.... new evidence has emerged of a widespread gap in the cost of health insurance, as women pay much more than men of the same age for individual insurance policies providing identical coverage, according to new data from insurance companies and online brokers.
Insurers say they have a sound reason for charging different premiums: Women ages 19 to 55 tend to cost more than men because they typically use more health care, especially in the childbearing years.
But women still pay more than men for insurance that does not cover maternity care. In the individual market, maternity coverage may be offered as an optional benefit, or rider, for a hefty additional premium.
In general, insurers say, they charge women more than men of the same age because claims experience shows that women use more health care services. They are more likely to visit doctors, to get regular checkups, to take prescription medications and to have certain chronic illnesses.
The disparities are evident in premiums charged by major insurers like Humana, UnitedHealth, Aetna and Anthem, a unit of WellPoint; in prices quoted by eHealth, a leading online source of health insurance; and in rate tables published by state high-risk pools, which offer coverage to people who cannot obtain private insurance.
Humana, for example, says its Portrait plan offers “ideal coverage for people who want benefits like those provided by big employers.” For a Portrait plan with a $2,500 deductible, a 30-year-old woman pays 31 percent more than a man of the same age in Denver or Chicago and 32 percent more in Tallahassee, Fla.
In Columbus, Ohio, a 30-year-old woman pays 49 percent more than a man of the same age for Anthem’s Blue Access Economy plan. The woman’s monthly premium is $92.87, while a man pays $62.30. At age 40, the gap is somewhat smaller, with Anthem charging women 38 percent more than men for that policy.
Article by Robert Pear - New York Times |
Zarnev
 |
Yes, gender does matter with most health policies. There are a very few group policies where gender doesn't matter.
There are nearly as many exceptions as there are policies but here are the basics. Males are cheaper than females when younger but are more expensive when older. Maternity doesn't matter as much as you'd think because with most individual policies maternity is not part of the policy. Maternity can be added with many policies and females will pay a much higher premium for the coverage in addition to the higher premium they'll pay anyway.
With group policies the maternity premium is usually handled different. Everyone, including single males and all people over or under fertility age are paying a higher premium for the maternity coverage.
The companies will use stats to calculate premium. Some companies calculate premium by zip code. Also, different states will have regulations which will vary the policy and also the premium. |
mbrcatz
|
Well, it's not priced on gender, but it's priced on COVERAGE, and maternity is a seperate coverage, and costs around $300 a month EXTRA. |
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