Proposed Ohio House bill would ban gender-based insurance rating

Democratic state representatives Nancy Garland and Nickie Antonio introduced legislation this week that would ban health care companies from charging higher premiums to women (Source: “Lawmakers Push For Ban On Health Care Companies Charging Women Higher Premiums,” WBNS-TV (Columbus), May 15, 2012).

House Bill 551 would prohibit insurance companies from considering gender when determining premiums. Fourteen states have already banned or limited gender rating for individual policies, and 17 states have done so for group insurance policies.

The federal Affordable Care Act is set to end gender rating in 2014. At the time, premium rates in the individual market would only vary based on age, family size, geographic location and tobacco usage.