Gender rating costing women almost $1B

The health care law is working for women by helping them get the care they need. But some opponents of the law are fighting to take away these benefits and common sense protections. It’s critical that our community learns more about the importance of the law for women and their families and what’s at stake for us if it goes away.

Because of the practice of “gender rating” in the individual insurance market, a woman purchasing her own health insurance in many states will pay more than a man for the same coverage.

Nationwide, the effect of these discrepancies is staggering. According to the National Women’s Law Center, gender rating costs women approximately $1 billion a year. Thanks to the health care law, this discriminatory practice is on its way out.

CASEY JO REMY

Sandpoint