Posted on 09/19/2004 6:04:36 PM PDT by vannrox
Women would be forced to pay hundreds of pounds more for their car insurance under new EU anti-sexism laws expected to come under heavy fire from a parliamentary inquiry this week.
Female drivers are charged up to 30 per cent less than male drivers because they have fewer crashes. They also pay less for life insurance, because they are less likely to die young.
The measures proposed by the European Commission to enforce 'gender equality' would force the financial services industry to treat the sexes equally. It argues that differences in men and women's life expectancy are down to potentially changeable lifestyle and social forces, such as women traditionally drinking and smoking less than men.
Luisella Pavan-Woolfe, the European Commission official overseeing the gender equality drive, told the Lords European Union sub-committee on consumer affairs, due to publish its findings this week, that it would be unacceptable to charge black people more for car insurance even if it could be proved they had more crashes, and that it should be equally unacceptable to differentiate between the sexes.
The government is unimpressed. Jacqui Smith, the equalities minister, will push at a crucial meeting of the Employment Council on 4 October for amendments which would allow insurers to charge men and women different rates so long as they are supported by 'objective' reasons and sound evidence.
Her stance will receive strong backing on Wednesday from the committee's report, which is expected to argue that it does not make sense to deny genuine differences between the sexes. 'Where there are objective reasons for taking account of gender, it should be allowed,' said one source close to the inquiry.
Young women who have just passed their tests could be worst hit. There are 60 per cent more claims by men aged 17-19 than among women.
Women could, in theory, gain from equal treatment if it were also enforced for pensions. They pay more for annuities than men to get the same standard of living in retirement because they are likely to live longer and so need a pension for longer.
The Equal Opportunities Commission said while it supported the equality directive, insurers should be allowed to charge different rates as long as it was explained why they were doing so.
Some EU countries, including Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands, already ban insurers from differentiating between the sexes.
This is absurd.
But for some reason women are statistically less likely to have an accident than men.
Actuarial laws mean nothing to Socialists and, of course, the men's rates couldn't be lowered!
This is stupid. Oh the humanity!
"Women talking (probably gossiping) on cell phones and driving SUVs are a dangerous combination down here."
Then it's a good thing my hubby doesn't live down there....he is forever on his cell phone (probably gossiping) while driving his SUV or driving my vehicle.
Women have been accused of gossiping and lots of jokes have been made about this....but truth be told, men are just as gossipy if not more than women. You wouldn't believe the number of stories my hubby has come home with.
Equality enfrorced in the EU -- women affected most.
Buahahahahaha
These are the facts!
But the EU wants to IGNORE the facts!
So actuaries may as well just hang up their calculators.
Next the EU will rule that someone who builds their house on a mountain should pay the same as someone who builds their house in a flood plain for insurance against flooding!
Madness!
You said it.
Insurance companies may as well sack the actuaries.
To tell you the truth, I'm in Ireland, and if my premium goes through the roof because of this - I'll go out and drive over the next freakin' MEP I see.
I don't know why women are getting upset about this....after all, isn't this what we women have been wanting all along....equality with men.
If sex discrimination is outlawed in insurance rate calculations, women will pay more for car and life insurance, less for medical insurance.
I am equal with men.
I just drive better.
And I want that reflected in my policy.
BTW...I have absolutely NO problem with the insurance industry bringing down the price of mens policies.
But if, overnight, I go from being insurable at a rate of €400 per annum to €1,500 per annum....yeah! I'm going to be really annoyed.
"Insurance companies may as well sack the actuaries."
And all these years, I thought that is what insurance was all about. They weighed the risks, charged enough to cover their clients and make a profit; but not too much of a profit because in a free market, there is always competition. Now I'm told all that is needed is for some petty dicator to set rates to whatever may be deemed proper (without being killed by a pitchfork wielding mob) and all will be right in the world of insurance.
German women are also forcing men to sit down when they urinate, because it's not fair that men get to stand up.
Don't you see? The insurance will depend on who is building, not where.
I always wondered when they'd get around to this. We aren't allowed to charge people who engage in "alternate lifestyles" extra on their life or health insurance when statistically speaking they are more likely to contract HIV/AIDS and die at a younger age, so why should men be charged more for auto insurance because of a greater likelyhood of accidents.
the eu is doomed. seems like as good a thread as any to post this.
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