Why are American Women Paying Higher Premiums for Health Insurance Than Men?

Women in the US pay higher health insurance premiums, to the tune of $1 Billion more than men do, said a report released early this week by the National Women's Law Center. This is even when they tend to take better care of their health.

A 40-year-old woman who does not smoke in Louisville, KY pays $196 a month, compared to the $128 that a male smoker pays for the very same coverage with HumanaOne, according to data cited by the New York Times.

But this is not all - over half of the best-selling individual plans charge non-smoking women more than their cigarette-puffing male counterparts, says the Law Center report.

Women who are overweight also pay more than men, who are equally overweight, says a health insurance website eHealthInsurance.com.

The price discrepancy for women underscores an ongoing gender gap for health coverage in the United States. In the vast majority states, insurance companies can charge women more than men for the same coverage because of what is called a ‘gender rating’.

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Source-Medindia