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On discrimination in health insurance

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Boyer-Kassem

    (Université de Poitiers)

  • Sébastien Duchêne

    (CEE-M, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro)

Abstract

In many countries, private health insurance companies are allowed to vary their premiums based on some information on individuals. This practice is intuitively justified by the idea that people should pay the premium corresponding to their own known risk. However, one may consider this as a form of discrimination or wrongful differential treatment. Our goal in this paper is to assess whether profiling is ethically permissible in health insurance. We go beyond the existing literature in considering a wide range of parameters, be they genetic, non-genetic, or even non-medical such as age or place of living. Analyzing several ethical concerns, and tackling the difficult question of responsibility, we argue that profiling is generally unjust in health insurance.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Boyer-Kassem & Sébastien Duchêne, 2020. "On discrimination in health insurance," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 55(1), pages 5-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:55:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s00355-019-01227-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-019-01227-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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