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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.motss,net.med
Subject: Re: Politics of AIDS, of Foster Care
Message-ID: <2034@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Sep-85 20:29:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2034
Posted: Tue Sep 17 20:29:55 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 06:34:28 EDT
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Xref: watmath net.motss:2079 net.med:2414

> >What's wrong with insurance companies using HTLV-III bloodtests
> >to assess applicant risk for life insurance?  The danger is that
> >test results will be used to deny coverage, & not just raise
> >premiums ...
> >
> >If results were used to deny coverage or put an astronomical price
> >on premiums, most gay men in many urban areas would be effectively
> >denied life insurance.  ...
> >
> I still don't see any problem as long as the rate increases are well-
> correlated with the chances of contracting AIDS if one tests positive
> and with the chances of death resulting from contracting AIDS.
>
> My original point stands -- smokers pay more insurance than non-smokers,
> people in certain [often NECESSARY] high-risk jobs pay much more insurance.
> If I was an insurance company (I HATE insurance companies, BTW; just trying
> to be unbiased here), I would view a male positive-HTLV-III homosexual with
> just as jaundiced (from an insurability standpoint) an eye as I would a
> professional highwire performer.  ...
> 
The problem:  Insurance is a form of socialism.  The purpose is to
spread the costs generated by one individual over the whole group.
ANY attempt to select out ANY higher risk subgroup is in conflict
with the basic purpose of insurance.  The inevitable result is a
reduction in the cost sharing and a lessening of the 'insurance'.
(Yes, I know there are differential rates based on various
tables, charts, etc.  The conflict still remains.)

-- 

E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

This is the obligatory disclaimer of everything. (Including but
not limited to: typos, spelling, diction, logic, and nuclear war)


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