Once insurance companies can accurately predict everyone's risk and then proceed to charge each person accordingly, how is it insurance anymore? The whole point of insurance is to distribute risk evenly over a specific population.
I think insurers should distinguish between controllable and non-controllable factors, and they should not be permitted to discriminate on the basis of non-controllable factors. For instance, if someone chooses to ride a motorcycle instead of drive a car, then there should be a premium for that policy. However, if someone is born with a genome that predisposes them to dying much sooner from a specific disease, they should be charged no more than anyone else, because you can't control your genetics.
I doubt most companies would willingly take the initiative on this though...
With regard to the article's point, not everyone is able to exercise effectively to keep themselves in shape. People with disabilities are not necessarily able to go for a run and should not be penalized financially for being unable to do so.
I think insurers should distinguish between controllable and non-controllable factors, and they should not be permitted to discriminate on the basis of non-controllable factors. For instance, if someone chooses to ride a motorcycle instead of drive a car, then there should be a premium for that policy. However, if someone is born with a genome that predisposes them to dying much sooner from a specific disease, they should be charged no more than anyone else, because you can't control your genetics.
I doubt most companies would willingly take the initiative on this though...
With regard to the article's point, not everyone is able to exercise effectively to keep themselves in shape. People with disabilities are not necessarily able to go for a run and should not be penalized financially for being unable to do so.