Comments on: Ironies of Health Insurance Costs (or “come and see the violence inherent in the system”) http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:56:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sunday Money Roundup - New President Edition. | My Two Dollars http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29494 Sunday Money Roundup - New President Edition. | My Two Dollars Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:01:31 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29494 [...] Micah has some ironies of different health insurance costs. Believe me, I can understand this [...] [...] Micah has some ironies of different health insurance costs. Believe me, I can understand this [...]

]]> By: Weekly Roundup and Carnivals http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29377 Weekly Roundup and Carnivals Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:02:41 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29377 [...] Mrs. Micah’s Spouse writes about Ironies of Health Insurance [...] [...] Mrs. Micah’s Spouse writes about Ironies of Health Insurance [...]

]]> By: LAL http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29364 LAL Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:18:59 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29364 Insurance companies charge women more for maternity. And usually if you have private insurance there is a separate maternity rider. Insurance companies charge women more for maternity. And usually if you have private insurance there is a separate maternity rider.

]]> By: LinkStuff Halloween Edition http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29291 LinkStuff Halloween Edition Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:56:33 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29291 [...] Mrs. Micah’s husband thinks that their insurance company isn’t very good at evaluating risk. [...] [...] Mrs. Micah’s husband thinks that their insurance company isn’t very good at evaluating risk. [...]

]]> By: Milehimama http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29168 Milehimama Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:06:16 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29168 I always thought women were more expensive than men, because their annual exams are more expensive (also, most insurance covers a physical AND a well-woman exam). Also, the "plumbing" costs more to treat if it gets sick. I always thought women were more expensive than men, because their annual exams are more expensive (also, most insurance covers a physical AND a well-woman exam). Also, the “plumbing” costs more to treat if it gets sick.

]]> By: BeThisWay http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29162 BeThisWay Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:16:50 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29162 Actually it's because women pay more for health insurance than men do. Why? Women tend to go to the doctor more, get more tests, get more treatment. It costs the insurers more, so they charge more. It kind of evens out, as because women go to the doctor more they live longer. So life insurance is cheaper for them. :) Actually it’s because women pay more for health insurance than men do.

Why? Women tend to go to the doctor more, get more tests, get more treatment. It costs the insurers more, so they charge more.

It kind of evens out, as because women go to the doctor more they live longer. So life insurance is cheaper for them.

:)

]]> By: Dad http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29160 Dad Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:55:32 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29160 It is interesting. I suspect that it is a statistical rating that hits you. For whatever reason, women are more costly for health insurance. Aryn and Phoenix's explanations are possible causes. But of this I'm fairly sure, they have mathematics behind their rates. Not that insurance companies are idiot proof. I recall a man at a former job I held related this incident. He needed a dental crown. It was in the back of his mouth. The insurance company declined to pay for an enamel crown and insisted on a gold crown. Up until two years before this, enamel crowns were much more expensive than gold crowns. However, the price of gold has just gone up to $800 to $900 an ounce and a gold crown was several TIMES more expensive. However, the adjusters at this insurance company had not adjusted their view point. The dentist proposed the enamel crown because it was cheaper! Go figure. It is interesting. I suspect that it is a statistical rating that hits you. For whatever reason, women are more costly for health insurance. Aryn and Phoenix’s explanations are possible causes. But of this I’m fairly sure, they have mathematics behind their rates. Not that insurance companies are idiot proof.

I recall a man at a former job I held related this incident. He needed a dental crown. It was in the back of his mouth. The insurance company declined to pay for an enamel crown and insisted on a gold crown. Up until two years before this, enamel crowns were much more expensive than gold crowns. However, the price of gold has just gone up to $800 to $900 an ounce and a gold crown was several TIMES more expensive. However, the adjusters at this insurance company had not adjusted their view point. The dentist proposed the enamel crown because it was cheaper! Go figure.

]]> By: Aryn http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29154 Aryn Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:20:51 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29154 I think it's for a few of reasons: 1. Women see the doctor more often. We're more likely to go in when we feel something off, while men typically have to be nagged into it by their wives. 2. Women get pregnant. Insurance companies don't like that. 3. Women take more prescriptions. For some reason, doctors really like to prescribe us stuff. So, it doesn't make sense from an actual risk standpoint, but it does make sense from a statistical risk standpoint. I think it’s for a few of reasons:

1. Women see the doctor more often. We’re more likely to go in when we feel something off, while men typically have to be nagged into it by their wives.

2. Women get pregnant. Insurance companies don’t like that.

3. Women take more prescriptions. For some reason, doctors really like to prescribe us stuff.

So, it doesn’t make sense from an actual risk standpoint, but it does make sense from a statistical risk standpoint.

]]> By: mrsmicah http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29151 mrsmicah Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:51:07 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29151 @Phoenix, That's certainly a possibility too. Though the programs we applied for don't cover prescriptions until you've passed a deductible. And neither of us were on it when we applied. But the maternity coverage is a good point. Still that doesn't really explain all the extra paperwork that the guys didn't have to go through. @Phoenix, That’s certainly a possibility too. Though the programs we applied for don’t cover prescriptions until you’ve passed a deductible. And neither of us were on it when we applied.

But the maternity coverage is a good point. Still that doesn’t really explain all the extra paperwork that the guys didn’t have to go through.

]]> By: Phoenix_PJS http://financefreelancelife.com/2008/10/27/ironies-of-health-insurance-costs-or-come-and-see-the-violence-inherent-in-the-system/#comment-29149 Phoenix_PJS Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:47:16 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1136#comment-29149 Or maybe it's because both girls are...girls :) (and therefore more likely to be on a Dr. prescribed and insurance covered birth control plan). Or, if the policies cover any maternity expenses, the fact that you are paying a few dollars less each month, actually means that they DID identify you as risky, just not as risky as a pregnant woman. Or maybe it’s because both girls are…girls :) (and therefore more likely to be on a Dr. prescribed and insurance covered birth control plan). Or, if the policies cover any maternity expenses, the fact that you are paying a few dollars less each month, actually means that they DID identify you as risky, just not as risky as a pregnant woman.

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