The Case For Health Reform: "When Insurance Companies Win, Women Lose"

categories: Government, Health, Politics

Published October 11, 2009 @ 07:00AM PT

Just wanted to make sure the Change.org readers saw this important information from SEIU about how women are discriminated under the current health care system and why it is so important to pass comprehensive health care reform WITH the public option.

Today, insurance companies charge women 48% more than men for the same coverage on the individual market.

In 2008, 14.5 million American women purchased health insurance through the individual market. According to a recent study, these women pay up to 48% more in premiums than men

This discrepancy is due to an insurance industry practice known as "gender rating," which permits insurance companies in most states to charge men and women different premiums for the same coverage

In all but 12 states, insurance companies are completely free to continue this practice

Many insurance companies don't provide maternity coverage, calling pregnancy a "matter of choice" and C-Sections are a "Pre-Existing Condition."

A 2008 study found that just 12 percent of individual market plans include comprehensive maternity coverage

Defending the practice, one insurance official called pregnancy a "matter of choice."

In addition, many insurance companies consider C-Sections a "pre-existing condition," while in Colorado, a subsidiary of United Health, one of the biggest insurance companies in the nation, "simply rejects" women who have had C-Sections.

Today, insurance companies are free to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence.

In eight states and the District of Columbia, it is perfectly legal for insurance companies to deny coverage to victims of domestic violence - and insurance companies are happy to take advantage of this loophole.

Rationalizing this practice, one health care official infamously argued that covering a victim of domestic violence would be akin to covering "a smoker who doesn't stop smoking." [USA Today, 6/2/94]

In 2006, ten Senate conservatives voted to kill a proposal that would have ensured coverage to victims of domestic violence. [Sens. Alexander, Burr, Ensign, Enzi, Frist, Gregg, Hatch, Isakson, Roberts and Sessions; CQ Committee Coverage, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Markup, 3/15/06]

President Obama and leaders in Congress have outlined specific reforms that would end these and other abusive insurance industry practices.

The reforms being advanced by the White House and Congress would:

Make "gender rating" illegal.

Prevent insurance companies from denying care on the basis of pre-existing conditions.

End "rescission," or the insurance industry practice of canceling someone's coverage when they get sick.

Set limits on out-of-pocket expenses.

Provide competition and choice.

Photo credit: Torsten Mangner

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Comments (11)

"Rationalizing this practice, one health care official infamously argued that covering a victim of domestic violence would be akin to covering "a smoker who doesn't stop smoking." [USA Today, 6/2/94]"

I sucked in my breath so suddenly when I read this, I nearly choked on my snack.

Posted by Lisa Smolen on 10/11/2009 @ 03:42PM PT
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There really are no words, are there?

Posted by Criss Cox on 10/11/2009 @ 05:48PM PT
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Thank you miss nedeau...

This blog article illustrates far better than Ive been able to why it is that health care is just one of the many aspects of women's rights issue that desperatly needs to be addressed.

I just wish that the idiotic insurance companies that practice those evils would go out of bussiness.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/12/2009 @ 06:47AM PT
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Not to sound like a know-it-all, but this practice has been going on for many, many years. Ever hear of drive-thru mastectomies?, one day in the hospital after a breast is removed, but men stay in the hospital several days after prostate surgery, go figure ! It was explained to me by our insurance agent that women's bodies have many more things that can go wrong, so we should pay a higher premium ! I almost lept across the kitchen table and choked him. Women pay more for many services and are still behind in equal pay in the workplace. WHEN is it going to end? No wonder we're impoverished after divorce, the oppression is at every corner. Double standards are alive and well.................but I'm finally at an age in my life where I don't give a damn if I'm called a bitch........I tell it like I see it.

Posted by Deborah H on 10/12/2009 @ 01:38PM PT
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You, I like.

What got me in this article was, "pregnancy is a choice." Yes, it is. So why shouldn't the other person that decided on this,"choice," compensate by paying the same premiums?

Posted by L.S. hope on 10/12/2009 @ 05:04PM PT
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Didn't you know birth control is our responsibility? If we don't want to get pregnant we should make sure we don't? It's in the male DNA to sow his seed far and wide without concern or responsibility? It's the natural order of life !! When I worked in a hospital, I remember some doctors talking about a male birth control pill that was being tested.............they all laughed their heads off. They said no guy would ever take it. And ain't that the truth !! Freedom to do whatever the hell they want with no responsibility. That's why they don't want us to have any...................freedom that is.......

Posted by Deborah H on 10/13/2009 @ 07:09AM PT
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Well miss h...

Speaking as a man, which I am...

Ive always believed that sexual responsability belongs to both partners and not just the woman...I too look for the day when men stand up and begin taking their responsabilities more seriously.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/14/2009 @ 04:49PM PT
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Hi to all, this blog is very nice. I want share information on list of insurance companies in USA, Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, Florida, Mexico, New York, Washington and so on. The entire USA countries insurance companies list visit "Altiusdirectory.com". This URL may be helpful for you.

http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Insurance/list-insurance-companies-usa.php

Posted by Kandukuri Kishore on 10/14/2009 @ 12:28AM PT
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And your reason for sharing this with us is ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/14/2009 @ 04:50PM PT
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I'm wondering why health care posts like this one are not cross-referenced to the Universal Health Care section of change.org. I wonder why we all have to stay in our little boxes.

Posted by Carla Rautenberg on 10/31/2009 @ 11:39AM PT
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Good question...

Ive noticed that in some cases, there does seem to be a replication of articles/petitions on different forums depending on their connection to the issue but you raise a valid point here...

If nothing else, it would underscore how many issues affects more than just one or two aspects of our society.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/31/2009 @ 12:46PM PT
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Author

Jen Nedeau is a social media consultant, progressive activist, feminist speaker and writer. She currently lives in New York City, where she works full-time as the Director of Digital Strategy at Air America Media. In August 2008, Nedeau was selected to be the Editor of the WomensRights.Change.Org where she facilitates daily discussion about the feminist movement. Additionally, Nedeau volunteers as the Chief Technology Officer for New Leaders Council, a non-profit that offers exclusive training for young leaders. You can follow her on Twitter @HumanFolly or learn more here: www.jennedeau.com.