Something to consider today...if you smoke you're paying higher costs for your life insurance, correct? Social Science & Medicine estimates that for a person in their twenties, a smoker's life expectancy is 7 years lower than that of a non-smoker. It makes sense for the insurance companies to charge them higher rates. Other factors include drug abuse, and high risk activities (pilot, etc.). What isn't a factor is homosexuality. Perhaps here is the best place to put the usual disclaimers, one of my best friends is gay, he in fact introduced me and my girlfriend a year and a half ago, and I really owe him for it. He lives with his boyfriend, and we hang out as often as possible (they live in Houston, I in Baton Rouge). According to the Omega Journal of Death and Dying, a homosexual has a lower expectancy anywhere from 20 to 30 years, as compared to a non-smoking straight person.

So why is a gay person paying less for life insurance than a smoker? Yes, in this day and age, it is very politically incorrect to ask such a question as "are you gay?" Especially in regards to any form of insurance. But doesn't it make sense that if you engage in a high risk activity, and life insurance companies base their rates on life expectancy as it relates to those activities, to ask such a question? And doesn't this mean that you and I are subsidizing lower insurance rates for homosexuals because the companies are keeping their rates down (even though it does cost them more to insure a homosexual rather than a straight).

I, for one, will factor the "are you gay" question into my decision when choosing a life insurance provider, as everyone should pay their fair share.

Anyletter