Report: Women pay much more for individual health policies

An investigation by the New York Times of data from insurance companies and online brokers has found that women pay substantially more than men of the same age for identical individual insurance policies (Source: “Women Buying Health Policies Pay a Penalty,” New York Times, Oct. 30, 2008).

Insurance companies say that the price difference is the result of women ages 19 to 55 typically using more health care, especially in the childbearing years.

One example cited in the story is that in Columbus, 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, compared to a man’s premium of $62.30.

Federal law prohibits employer-based coverage from charging higher rates to women and some states, including Maine, Montana and New York, have laws prohibiting sex-based rates in the individual insurance market.