Beth McCann

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Gov. signs Rep. McCann’s bill to ban gender discrimination in health insurance into law

(DENVER) – Gov. Bill Ritter today signed House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps. Beth McCann (D-Denver) and Sue Schafer (D-Wheat Ridge) and Sens. Gail Schwartz and Morgan Carroll, to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against women when setting health insurance rates.

HB 1008 passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Ritter during the fourth annual Health Care Day of Action at the Capitol.

“I am thrilled that we were able to get this bill passed,” Rep. McCann said. “When I first graduated from law school we started the Colorado Women's Bar Association, and one of the first issues we tackled was gender discrimination in health insurance. It is ironic that many years later, I am still working on this issue. I am honored to be in a position now to co-sponsor a bill that is a great step forward for women in Colorado who are in the individual health care market.”

“I am very pleased that Colorado has eliminated unfair health insurance premiums on women,” Rep. Schafer said. “Now women and men of the same age will pay the same cost for the same coverage in individual private insurance plans.”

“Today’s legislation eliminates the type of gender discrimination practiced by insurance companies in setting rates for women – rates which can be up to 59 percent higher than rates for men,” Gov. Ritter said. “This bill ensures access to care and coverage for all at an equitable price and eliminates the financial burden that gender rating puts on women.”

“Gender should not be considered a preexisting condition,” Sen. Schwartz said. “Ensuring that all Coloradans have equal access to health care is vital to the well-being of our state. Affordable health care for women helps care for Colorado's children and families.”

“As the country looks to D.C. for federal health care reform, Colorado can now thank the legislature for health care equality,” Sen. Carroll said. “With the signing of this bill into law, legislators are standing up for what is just in health care: women and men stand on level ground in Colorado today.”

The new law no longer allows gender rating in Colorado’s individual insurance market. More than 130,000 Colorado women aged 19-64 had individual insurance in 2006-07, and 90 percent of the plans offered in Colorado utilized gender rating in the individual insurance market.

This practice is currently prohibited in the small group market and the new law will bring equity to the individual market. HB 1008 will make health insurance more affordable and accessible for women purchasing insurance in the individual market.

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party
Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th
General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore
Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr,
Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan.
Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Beth McCann
Colorado State Representative
House District 8
beth@bethmccann.org
(303) 866-2959