CBS News
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500165_162-57322289/report-37-states-allow-health-coverage-gender-bias/ (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500165_162-57322289/report-37-states-allow-health-coverage-gender-bias/)
In 37 states, it's legal to deny women health insurance because they're women, according to a report in the December edition of Prevention magazine. The same report says 95 percent of insurance companies that offer individual health plans practice "gender rating," or gender-related denials.
Diane Salvatore, Prevention's editor in chief, explained women can pay 84 percent more than men, because they use health care services more frequently.
She said, "It's called gender rating. Men pay less, women pay more. ... We at Prevention feel women should be rewarded and applauded for using health care services."
"Early Show" co-anchor Betty Nguyen remarked that it would seem, if you catch a disease before it gets out of control, there would be less cost for treatment.
Salvatore said, "It sure does. Not only is this practice legal and rampant, but we think it's outrageous for exactly that reason. Not only does it lower health care costs for the whole system overall, if you're going ... it actually saves lives."
She added, "Health insurance companies, first of all, don't have to tell you why you are denied. But when you ask them, health insurance companies are unapologetic about that. They say it's good business practice."
-------------------------------------------
Okay, so my personal opinion is that CBS News is an awfully untrustworthy source for anything relating to science or medicine, but the only other choices are Prevention and these guys: http://thestir.cafemom.com/healthy_living/128641/health_insurers_are_charging_you (http://thestir.cafemom.com/healthy_living/128641/health_insurers_are_charging_you)
Cafemom has a way more coherent article, but it derives from the CBS story, so it seems only fair to give CBS the main link.