[May 18, 2009]
The California Senate last week approved a bill (S.B. 54) that would prohibit health insurance companies from charging different rates for individual insurance policies based on gender, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/15). The state Assembly last Monday voted 48-29 in favor of a similar measure (A.B. 119). Insurance companies maintain that the practice, known as gender rating, is justified because younger women typically seek health care services more frequently than men. According to a report by the National Women's Law Center, women can pay up to 20% more than men for the same individual coverage. Federal law already prohibits employers that offer health plans from charging different rates based on gender, and ten states have similar laws that apply to individual plans. However, the remaining 40 states allow the practice.
State Sen. Mark Leno (D) authored the Senate legislation after San Francisco filed a lawsuit against the state seeking to outlaw gender rating. The lawsuit is on hold pending the outcome of the two bills (Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/14).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Laura Hessburg, associate editor & senior health policy advisor, National Partnership
Christine Monahan, assistant editor & health program assistant, National Partnership
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