Dear Friend,

The Montana constitution and Montana law prohibits any insurer from discriminating on the basis of sex or marital status. This law has been on the books in Montana for 25 years, and for 25 years no legislature has overturned it.

But these protections are at risk, Senate Bill 142, sponsored by Senator Gary Perry (R, Manhatten-35) would allow insurance companies to discriminate against women in insurance pricing.

I testified against this bill in the Montana Legislature.  Now, I need your help to defeat it.

Take a quick minute TODAY to please contact your legislator online or by phone (406-444-4462).

Find your legislator online through Project Vote Smart.

Keep it simple. State your opposition to SB 142, give your address and phone number so that your legislator knows you live in her or his district.

Just as we do not tolerate the practice of using race as a factor in setting rates, we should not and do not tolerate using gender.

In fact, studies have shown that in states without laws against gender discrimination in insurance products there is widespread disparity in the cost of health insurance.  In these states, many women pay much more than men of the same age for insurance policies providing identical coverage.  That just isn’t right.

This bill would hurt Montana families by increasing the cost of insurance and decreasing the benefits they receive.

The bill is unconstitutional.

The LA Times recently reported that the California Department of Insurance is being sued for allowing insurers to discriminate against women after California “approved a system that allows the insurance companies to impose “gender rating” when pricing policies, resulting in women paying as much as 39% more for coverage then men.”

Montana’s “Non-gender” insurance law benefits all consumers.
Insurance companies must treat all consumers equally. Auto insurance premiums decrease for men, and women benefit on life and health policies.

In 2006, 30 other states had a higher average premium for personal automobile insurance. The average combined premium in Montana is 11% lower than the national average.