Do females pay higher insurance premiums than males?
In general, car insurance companies charge male drivers more for coverage because they're more likely to get into accidents. But while most states allow insurers to consider gender when setting rates, your age, location, insurance provider and driving record usually make a bigger difference.
Why do men and women pay different car insurance rates? Since they show a better reputation for safe driving than men, women tend to pay cheaper rates when they're younger.At age 25, both genders see fairly equal rates due to maturity and more experience behind the wheel.
Drivers with a history of accidents, speeding tickets or other traffic violations typically pay the highest rates.
In fact, women pay on average 24% less for life insurance than men. However, gender isn't the only factor insurers evaluate, and your medical history or lifestyle choices have a much bigger impact on how much you pay for coverage.
Does being married get me better car insurance rates? Yes, married couples typically pay lower premiums than single people. In general, insurance companies view married people as financially stable and having more life experience. That can mean fewer accidents and claims.
Does Gender Affect Car Insurance Rates in Every State? Not all states allow insurers to use the gender listed on your driver's license as a factor for determining your car insurance premium. These are the states that don't allow someone's gender to influence their insurance rate: California.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has issued new regulations that prohibit the use of gender in private passenger automobile insurance rating in California. The Gender Non-Discrimination in Automobile Insurance Rating Regulation became effective on January 1, 2019.
Some states don't permit gender to impact insurance rates
There are a few states that explicitly forbid insurance companies from considering gender when it comes to insurance rates. Those states are: California.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that teen drivers are four times more likely to get into a car crash than drivers 20 and older. As a result, car insurance companies view young drivers as the most risky to insure. Drivers ages 16 to 24 tend to face the highest premiums compared to other age groups.
In many states, it's a general fact that men pay more for auto insurance than women overall. Statistics show that men are generally higher risk drivers, resulting in insurance companies charging more to insure them.
Which gender is more likely to have higher premiums?
For drivers older than 25, the difference between car insurance premiums for men and women is largely insignificant until drivers reach the age of 60. Beyond that, rates for male drivers tend to be somewhat more expensive.
Insurers can't set premiums based on an applicant's race or religion, for example. 1 But insurance companies traditionally have tied gender to an applicant's risk, so it's often been a factor in setting premiums. However, when setting premiums, insurers don't only consider gender as a factor.
Women generally have a longer life expectancy. According to data from the World Health Organization, the global life expectancy is around 76 years for women and 71 years for men. This makes covering women a lower risk for insurance companies and results in lower rates.
In most cases, yes-normally for the better. Married people are often seen by insurance companies as more stable and therefore, less of a risk. This means combining your car insurance can save you money.
You may also be subject to the “spousal surcharge,” where an employer will charge more for a family health insurance plan if it knows that a spouse has a health insurance plan available at his or her own employer. This fee may eliminate any cost savings that you might have experienced by combining plans.
Adding your husband or your wife to your policy will likely increase your auto insurance rates, but it should be cheaper than having two separate policies unless your spouse has a poor driving history. Married couples generally pay lower rates per person because research shows that they aren't as likely to file claims.
GENDER Definition & Legal Meaning
Defined difference between men and women based on culturally and socially constructed mores, politics, and affairs. Time and location give rise to a variety of local definitions. Contrasts to what is defined as the biological sex of a living creature.
The life insurance cost factors you can't control
And the cost of life insurance tends to be more for males because they have shorter lifespans and are more likely to have dangerous jobs or lifestyles, making them riskier to insure overall.
California law protects health insurance consumers from discrimination based on their gender identity and related medical conditions.
The health care law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, among other bases, in certain health programs and activities.
Why is Progressive so expensive?
If you buy directly from a Progressive company, your car insurance price reflects the cost of staffing and maintaining the sales centers, and a larger portion of our marketing costs.
In general, auto insurance for older cars may be cheaper than insuring newer vehicles of the same make and model if the used car is cheaper to repair or replace. A car depreciates in value over time, which lowers the maximum amount an insurance company would have to pay in the event of an accident.
Lack of Experience and Driving History
Young drivers are seen as more prone to accidents due to inexperience, making them riskier clients for insurers. This can result in higher premiums and even difficulty obtaining insurance coverage.
The pink tax refers to the tendency for products marketed specifically toward women to be more expensive than those marketed toward men. This phenomenon is often attributed to gender-based price discrimination, however research shows that the primary cause is women sorting into goods with higher marginal costs.
Experienced drivers are less likely to have accident claims, which means they cost less to insure. At Progressive, the average premium per driver tends to decrease significantly from 19-34 and then stabilize or decrease slightly from 34-75. At age 75, the average premium begins trending upward.
References
- https://www.policygenius.com/life-insurance/gender/
- https://www.upmc.com/services/south-central-pa/surgery/optimization-clinic/smoking-wound-healing/quit
- https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/married-couples/
- https://www.ias.edu/ideas/three-moral-hazards-health-insurance
- https://www.investopedia.com/gender-and-insurance-costs-5114126
- https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/state-health-policy/help-your-patients-enroll-in-health-insurance/affordable-care-act-issues-physicians-need-to-know
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/tobacco/tobacco_glossary.htm
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contentid=nicotine_cotinine&contenttypeid=167
- https://online.uttyler.edu/degrees/business/mba/healthcare-management/ethical-issues-in-healthcare/
- https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/
- https://www.valuepenguin.com/how-gender-impacts-car-insurance-rates
- https://www.medicinenet.com/drinking_water_flush_nicotine_out_of_your_system/article.htm
- https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/when-are-you-a-smoker
- https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/taking-nicotine-test
- https://www.wellingtonadvancedmed.com/2018/01/05/why-staying-with-the-same-doctor-is-beneficial/
- https://www.unitedway.org/my-smart-money/financial-planning/starting-a-family/getting-health-insurance-coverage-for-spouse-partner
- https://tatuminsurance.com/insurance-after-no-claims/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/ci/which-age-group-pays-the-most-for-car-insurance-2140778814/
- https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/media/238018/Stop_Before_Op_Final.pdf
- https://www.irmi.com/term/insurance-definitions/twisting
- https://www.medicinenet.com/can_doctors_tell_if_you_smoke_from_a_blood_test/article.htm
- https://lewisellis.com/industry-insights/article/40194436-moral-hazard-and-adverse-selection
- https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/life-insurance/death-benefit-denied/
- https://www.lybrate.com/topic/foods-to-flush-nicotine-out-of-your-body/8e36670ae4b9149967babf94f0c5bd04
- https://www.libertymutual.com/insurance-resources/auto/car-insurance-and-getting-married-faqs
- https://www.progressive.com/shop/car-insurance-rates-differ/
- https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/preparing-for-surgery/risks/smoking/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/life-insurance-nonsmoker/
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/insurance/auto/articles/nonbinary-car-insurance-how-it-works-and-ways-to-save/
- https://parinsurance.com/how-smoking-affects-your-health-insurance-premiums/
- https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/life-insurance/how-long-does-tobacco-stay-in-your-system/
- https://www.aflac.com/resources/life-insurance/life-insurance-for-smokers-and-tobacco-users.aspx
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2149030/
- https://www.thezebra.com/auto-insurance/driver/other-factors/male-vs-female-car-insurance-rates/
- https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2024/01/22/756155.htm
- https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2019/release003-19.cfm
- https://company.getinsured.com/tobacco-usage-explained/
- https://pomcannabis.com/what-happens-if-you-tell-your-doctor-you-smoke-weed/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322526
- https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/auto-insurance-rates-by-age/
- https://www.broadridgeadvisor.com/KT/trns.aspx?xd=INS-04&il=ff&xsl=content
- https://www.bioonepoway.com/cleaning-hacks-how-to-clean-nicotine-stains-from-your-home/
- https://www.quora.com/Do-doctors-have-the-right-to-refuse-treatment-of-patients-they-dont-like-or-who-have-a-different-opinion-than-them
- https://healthcareinsider.com/health-insurance-smokers-42747
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-address-medical-gaslighting1/
- https://www.verywellmind.com/how-long-does-nicotine-stay-in-your-system-80291
- https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25731135/
- https://thelawdictionary.org/gender/
- https://www.progressive.com/answers/how-age-impacts-insurance/
- https://www.coveredca.com/marketing-blog/why-are-californians-required-by-law-to-have-health-insurance/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-that-different-doctors-in-the-same-clinical-accept-different-insurance
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/which-of-the-following-is-an-example-of-a-moral-hazard-a-reckless-drivers-are-the-ones-most-likely-to-buy-automobile-insurance-b-retail-stores-located-in-high-crime-areas-tend-to-buy-theft-insurance-more-often-than-stores-located-in-low-crime-areas-c.html
- https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/patient-support-advocacy/patients-doctors-sue-hold-cigna-accountable-underpayments
- https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/50831/411317-Why-Do-People-Lack-Health-Insurance-.PDF
- https://www.albany.edu/~bd445/Economics_350_Money_and_Banking_Slides_Spring_2013/Adverse_Selection_and_Moral_Hazard.pdf
- https://khealth.com/learn/smoking-cessation/nicotine-to-leave-system/
- https://money.com/life-insurance-for-smokers/
- https://www.capitalone.com/cars/learn/getting-a-good-deal/which-gender-pays-more-for-car-insurance/1723
- https://medicaljustice.com/when-can-you-refuse-to-treat-a-patient/
- https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/fs-sex-discrimination/index.html
- https://www.henssler.com/how-can-an-insurance-company-really-tell-if-i-smoke/
- https://www.testing.com/tests/nicotine-and-cotinine/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/consumer-healthcare-guide/pros-and-cons-obamacare
- https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/hospitals-are-dropping-medicare-advantage-left-and-right.html
- https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/110-health/10-basics/aca.cfm
- https://www.spigalaw.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-patient-abandonment
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/sources-definitions/tobacco-use.htm
- https://www.vitality.co.uk/life-insurance/guides/life-insurance-for-smokers/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10204/
- https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/changing-gender-on-license/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4455519/
- https://www.quora.com/Can-my-doctor-tell-my-insurance-I-smoke
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6805410/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/what-gender-pays-more-for-car-insurance/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8212162/
- https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/long-nicotine-stay-system-3572733/
- https://winsurtech.com/blog/understanding-perils-and-hazards-in-insurance/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/car-insurance-rates-by-age-193712279.html
- https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/110-health/60-resources/TransHealthCoverage.cfm
- https://www.progressive.com/answers/how-much-is-life-insurance/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3326764/
- https://www.medicinenet.com/can_doctors_tell_if_you_smoke_occasionally/article.htm
- https://www.progressive.com/answers/are-older-cars-cheaper-to-insure/
- https://www.thrivefamilymedicine.com/news/2019/1/3/10-signs-its-time-to-change-your-doctor
- https://qz.com/advisor/auto-insurance/adding-spouse-to-car-insurance/
- https://www.kff.org/faqs/faqs-health-insurance-marketplace-and-the-aca/i-smoke-but-im-trying-to-quit-what-happens-if-i-dont-disclose-to-an-insurance-company-that-i-use-tobacco/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/quit-smoking/how-long-does-nicotine-stay-in-your-system
- https://blog.stridehealth.com/post/is-my-doctor-in-network
- https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/harmful-effects-tobacco/why-you-should-quit-smoking-having-surgery
- https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/29/female-patients-medical-expenses/
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1091581815618935
- https://foundershield.com/insurance-terms/definition/redlining-insurance/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/moralhazard.asp
- https://www.figure1.com/resources/blog/do-healthcare-professionals-have-the-right-to-refuse-patients/
- https://www.progressive.com/answers/car-insurance-with-roommates/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/health/health-insurance-medical-bills.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/101215/how-hard-career-selling-life-insurance.asp
- https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/treatments/how-long-does-nicotine-stay-in-your-system
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/purerisk.asp
- https://www.quora.com/Can-doctors-refuse-to-operate-on-a-person-if-they-are-a-smoker
- https://www.jotform.com/blog/medical-ethics/
- https://www.forc.org/Public/Journals/2020/Articles/Fall_2020/Vol31Ed3Article4.aspx
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01947648.2020.1833669
- https://www.prontoinsurance.com/blog/car-insurance-expensive-young-drivers/
- https://ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-15-2010/number-3-september-2010/understanding-moral-distress/
- https://www.icsworld.com/Private_Investigation_Case_Types/Blacklisting_and_Blackballing_Investigations.aspx
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/life-insurance-rate-by-age/
- https://www.quora.com/How-do-doctors-and-other-health-care-facilities-decide-which-insurance-they-will-take
- https://codingintel.com/two-visits-for-price-of-one-multiple-medical-visits-on-the-same-day/
- https://ehlinelaw.com/blog/geico-shuts-down-every-office-in-california
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_tax
- https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/men-women-auto-insurance-differences-by-state/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7923912/
- https://medium.com/@Dr_nabil_ebraheim/tests-that-orthopaedic-surgeons-should-think-about-smoking-nicotine-cotinine-levels-ea77c74c6f1f
- https://www.healthcare.gov/transgender-health-care/
- https://www.facs.org/for-patients/preparing-for-your-surgery/quit-smoking/
- https://www.investopedia.com/car-insurance-for-transgender-and-nonbinary-people-7548334
- https://michaelsonlaw.com/doctor-left-health-plan/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22252176/
- https://www.healthline.com/health-news/do-doctors-loathe-obamacare-041415
- https://quotewizard.com/auto-insurance/how-does-gender-affect-your-car-insurance-rates
- https://www.theweitzfirm.com/articles/what-do-when-doctor-unethical-behavior-crosses-legal-boundary.shtml
- https://www.acep.org/life-as-a-physician/ethics--legal/ethics/the-ethics-of-health-care-reform-issues-in-emergency---medicine---an-information-paper
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-life-insurance-rates-often-lower-women-first-financial-security
- https://www.personalabs.com/blog/blood-test-for-smoking-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-nicotine-cotinine-test/
- https://www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/life-products/life-insurance/life-insurance-and-smoking/