Question stemming from the driving one down below...?

Question

Interesting question came to me while reading people threatening to rend that persons spleen from his body with blunt implements. As a male drive, I've been told, to my face, that my rates are higher than that of a female driver in my same position due to statistical data stating that man are more likely to cause/be involved in accidents due to negligence.

Now, the question; If they had done the same to a female driver, how fast would they get sued for discrimination? Consider if they did this in a bank; If you wanted to open a bank account, as a female, but they apply the restriction that you have to carry a minimum balance as it is statistically proven (I'm making this up, its not true) that women bounce more cheques then males.

Moreover, does this not imply that men have gotten so use to being undercut that we don't care enough to put up a fight when something is obviously discrimatory? Or is it frowned upon for us to make waves/gripe about not getting what we want?

Answer 1

My husband used to work in car insurance, and let me tell you, insurers "discriminate" against EVERYONE! Your insurance rate is not only based on your sex, it's based on your age (age discrimination) and it's based on your job/career AND yearly income (class discrimination). Nurses pay more for car insurance than doctors, legal aids pay pay more than lawyers, etc. So EVERYONE, to a degree, is discriminated against by insurance companies.
Women actually cause more non-fatal, simple "fender-benders.".
Men cause more serious, fatal crashes, and therefore are considered more of a serious "risk." I'm not sure what the data is for the "class discrimination" though, although my husband says there is data that suggests the less you make, the more likely you are to be in an accident.

Answer 2

You will be pleased to know that insurance companies are finding that women drivers are just as aggressive and likely to get into an accident as males. The result will be an increase in rates for women.

This is a form of legal discrimination...

Answer 3

Well, this is because today there is road rage, and DUIs. More men cause accidents because of both of these things.
You can blame it on male hormones and ego. Some men are just plain hot heads, and others can not hold their liqueur, or drive under its influence (which one should not drive any way).
If the male population would just cool its heels then the rates would go down. Check the stats on road rage and DUIs compared to female drivers and you will see the truth...

Answer 4

I think you are missing the point. Home insurance rates are higher in 'tornado alley', on the Florida coast, etc. because of these homes are located in geographically 'dangerous" areas. There is abundant empirical data to support this. These people cannot sue for 'house-location discrimination". The same thing applies to young male drivers: many decades of statistical evidence suggests they are responsible for more car crashes, and deadlier car crashes. Whether an insurance company elects to sell you insurance is entirely up to them: as are their rates. I am sure this has been challenged in course yet the practise continues. Why? Because the insurance companies have irrefutable hard data on their side. In insurance-company lingo this phenomena is referred to as "risk factors" and they are calculated into the fees the insurance company may charge.

EDIT: I just thought of another example that illustrates the insurance industry's right to use 'risk factors" in setting rates and when paying out:
"Pre-existing Condition Exclusion"
Denial of coverage for health conditions that exist prior to enrolling in or purchasing a health insurance policy. For more information about pre-existing ...
healthinsurance.about.com/od/glossary/g/preex.htm
AND:
"In most states, people with preexisting medical conditions must struggle to find health insurance coverage at any price. Some lucky people can get insurance through their job, or as a dependent of someone who has health coverage available through their job. But others who are between jobs, are self-employed, or are working for a company that does not provide health coverage to employees must fend for themselves in the individual policy market. Their options are limited.

Currently, 31 states operate “high risk pools”, which are designed as a safety net for those people whose health condition makes it difficult or impossible for them to buy a health insurance policy. The National Association of Health Underwriters have a website that can tell you if your state has a high risk pool.

In most states, high risk pool coverage is similar to coverage found in individual policies…".