'Equalities Bill' may cause headache for the UK's insurance sector

07/07/2008 - source: "The Times".

The 'Equalities Bill' (aimed to put an end to age discrimination in England and Wales while at the same time allowing employers to discriminate in favour of female and ethnic minority job applicants) suggests that under new laws, insurers will be barred from rejecting older people who apply for motor and travel insurance.

The reforms would prevent companies from increasing premiums for older people to 'unreasonable levels'.

The director general of the ABI, Nick Starling, has responded to yesterday’s statement by Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, by agreeing with the Bill in principle. However, he warns that it could be harmful to the insurance industry if it is poorly implemented.

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