Recently, a report was released by specific health insurance companies and insurance brokers stating that women pay much more for health insurance coverage than do men. The New York Times reports that the difference was shocking.
The most prominent reason that a women's health plan might cost more is due to maternity care. Costs for having a baby are typically thousands of dollars - not an attractive expense for insurers. Another reason is that women are generally more in tune with their health, and more frequently visit the doctor than their male counterparts.
Elizabeth J. Leif, a health insurance actuary says, "[W]omen tend to be higher utilizers of health care than men. I am more conscious of my health than my husband, who will avoid going to the doctor at all costs."
So there is hard evidence why a woman might pay more for health insurance than a man. But is it justified? In the Times article there was a great philosophical argument against such a disparity.
Mila Kofman, an insurance superintendent who advocates equal rates says, "Only women can bear children. There's an expense to that. But having babies benefits communities and society as a whole. Women should not have to bear the entire expense.
The most prominent reason that a women's health plan might cost more is due to maternity care. Costs for having a baby are typically thousands of dollars - not an attractive expense for insurers. Another reason is that women are generally more in tune with their health, and more frequently visit the doctor than their male counterparts.
Elizabeth J. Leif, a health insurance actuary says, "[W]omen tend to be higher utilizers of health care than men. I am more conscious of my health than my husband, who will avoid going to the doctor at all costs."
So there is hard evidence why a woman might pay more for health insurance than a man. But is it justified? In the Times article there was a great philosophical argument against such a disparity.
Mila Kofman, an insurance superintendent who advocates equal rates says, "Only women can bear children. There's an expense to that. But having babies benefits communities and society as a whole. Women should not have to bear the entire expense.
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