Within that catchall category, a few simple distinctions are t usually made. The old pay more than the young, men pay a bit more than women, and smokers pay more than nonsmokers. If other details demanded by the policy proposal form, such as height, weight and medical history, suggest nothing untoward, insurers leave it at that. A 45-year old obese man with high blood pressure who wants 10 years of life cover may be asked to pay up to twice the going rate. Under Britain's Disability Disncer crimination Act 1995, insurers are not supposed to discriminate unless they can demonstrate that it is justified.
Many insurers say they are committed to keeping a simple standard rate.
No one expects it to change much. Measuring blood pressure and testing a urine sample could also reveal a lot about a person's health, he says, but most insurers do not ask for these tests as a matter of course. The volume of paperwork. . . I don't think there are many genetic tests that would. add anything to the underwriting process,' says the City actuary. These customers would in effect be able to collect their noclaims bonuses in advance.