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On discrimination in health insurance

Author

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  • Thomas Boyer-Kassem

    (MAPP [Poitiers] - Métaphysique allemande et philosophie pratique - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers, Axe 2 (2017-2021) : "Vulnérabilités et risques" (MSHS Poitiers) - MSHS de Poitiers - Maison des sciences de l'homme et de la société de Poitiers - UP - Université de Poitiers = University of Poitiers - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Sébastien Duchêne

    (CEE-M - Centre d'Economie de l'Environnement - Montpellier - UM - Université de Montpellier - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro - Montpellier SupAgro - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement)

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," Post-Print hal-02374903, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02374903
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-019-01227-0
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.umontpellier.fr/hal-02374903
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