Individual Health Plans - Gender Differences (cont.)
(6/28/2005)

Source: MarketWatch

Some states require health insurance companies to rate men and women equally while others don't have any such mandate, allowing insurers to charge women more because they generally utilize healthcare more often.

Premium prices were equal for men and women in 10 geographic areas: California cities, Honolulu, Portland, Ore., Seattle, Minneapolis, San Juan, Puerto Rico, New York, Boston and Washington.

New Orleans showed the biggest distinction between the sexes, with men's plans available at $106.59 per month versus $143.95 for women -- a 35% difference. Las Vegas also showed a gap, with the lowest premium for men at $100 compared with $128 for women, as did El Paso, Texas, which offered men $107 vs. $133 for women.

Among the top 50 cities, only Boston and New York have state-mandated guaranteed issue -- meaning health insurers must offer coverage to anyone who is interested in buying it, regardless of age or health status -- and community rating, where health insurers' rates are based on population and tend to be more favorable to unhealthy applicants.

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