While I applaud Andrea Williamson's staunch defense of women's rights in her health insurance column on Monday, I feel her column is unfair.
She said health insurers, such as Humana and Aetna, must be sexist because the premium for women is higher than for men, but in reality, their rates only look sexist.
For example, if they have data that shows women spend on average $10,000 or some other amount more on health care than men do, then it would be foolish not ask them to pay more for insurance.
If you want insurance to cover more health care, then you must pay more; this is the basic principle insurance companies are working from.
Childbirth, as Andrea points out, is one of the expenses women must bear, and it is not the only one. Women see a gynecologist every year from a young age, and they must also get screened for breast cancer every year. These things are to be expected.
However, studies covered by CNN, MSNBC and others also show women are more likely than men to go to the doctor for common illnesses. Because women go to the doctor more often, they spend more and therefore their premiums are higher.
While the numbers may first point to sexism, in reality there is nothing sinister behind them.
