The European Court of Justice’s ruling that prevents insurers from using gender as a risk calculation factor is already reshaping the insurance industry. Many have predicted rising costs across the board for women buying life, car and health insurance. But what will be the real implications of the new ruling? Are women going to be hit in their wallets?
Car insurance for women at moneysupermarket.com have benefited from cheaper insurance premiums than men for a long time now. In calculations for health insurance, life insurance, car insurance and annuities, the fact that women are seen statistically as a lower-risk group than men has meant women benefit from lower costs.
That is all set to change in December 2012, when the ECJ’s March 1st ruling on gender discrimination comes into effect, banning insurers from using gender as a factor in their calculations.
The statistical data is so conclusive in showing women to be safer drivers that companies like Sheila’s Wheels were set up to cater especially for women’s car insurance, offering preferential lower rates that were unavailable to some men.
Maggie Craig, Director General of the Association of British Insurers, spoke out to cool the fears of women who might be worried about their insurance costs skyrocketing.
The price of an insurance premium for a woman under the age of 24 is expected to rise by an average of 24 per cent, with the youngest female drivers facing a 60 per cent price hike.
Clearly, business models like the one adopted by Sheila’s Wheels are under serious threat.
Upon reaching retirement, people will often buy an annuity with their pension fund to guarantee them a fixed income for the rest of their life. Because women statistically live longer than men, a woman will more often than not be offered lower payouts than those offered to men with an identical pension fund.
She said: “Not all customers will be equally affected as the use of gender can vary significantly between products and different companies. Each company will have to respond to the ban in the way they feel is in their customers’ interests.”
George Ladds, Head of Pensions at Fair Investment Company, said: “Either rates for men and women will be brought in line to create ‘unisex’ annuity rate, which will probably see men’s rates go down more than women’s go up - or annuity providers will have to start looking at each case individually, which is more expensive, and that cost will be passed onto the consumer. “Either way, the consumer loses out on both choice and value. Annuity rates are already low, and this could be the excuse providers need to pull them even lower.”
Life Insurance
He added: “It is particularly alarming given that the head of the Association of Police Officers in the UK in 2005 noted that the biggest killer of young women in Britain is their boyfriend’s and male friends’ driving.”
The cost of life insurance premiums is also going to be overhauled as a result of the ECJ’s ruling. The Association of British Insurers predicts a 20 per cent rise in the cost of life insurance for women, while men will benefit from an average eight per cent reduction as life insurance calculations are evened out between the sexes.
Maggie Craig, Director General of the Association of British Insurers, called to women not to be put off buying essential cover by the new legislation:
Health insurance
Health insurance, unlike life insurance, costs women more, because statistics say that they’re more likely to suffer illness and claim on their insurance policy. As of December 2011, then, this will not be the case, and women’s health insurance rates are most certainly set to fall.
“Either way, the consumer loses out on both choice and value. Annuity rates are already low, and this could be the excuse providers need to pull them even lower.”
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