Orshe

The insurance industry’s Washington lobby is talking up the idea of stopping the practice of charging women more than men for coverage. But California is considering taking the matter into its own hands.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the state’s Senate is considering a proposal to ban the practice; the Assembly passed a similar measure on Monday.

Despite the fact that the top dog at America’s Health Insurance Plans, the industry’s national trade group, said last week that gender disparities should be eliminated, a local insurance trade group in California defended the practice.

“Setting health insurance rates works no differently than other types of insurance, such as auto and life insurance,” Charles Bacchi, interim president and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, told the Chronicle. “We are required by California law to price products based on hard data using claims experience and that’s what we do.”

Bacchi noted that young men often pay more than young women for car insurance, and added that health insurance would cost more for everyone if the measure passes.

California flag via Wikimedia Commons

See original here:
California Mulls Banning Higher Insurance Tabs for Women