SPOTLIGHT: Congress may limit insurers' abilities to charge higher premiums to older patients

Historically, two people with the same gender, activity level and health status could expect to pay dramatically different insurance rates if their ages were different, with the younger person possibly paying several hundred dollars less per month than someone at retirement age. In the future, however, health plans may not have so much leeway. As part of larger health reforms, Congress is considering legislation that would limit insurers' ability to charge older people higher premiums just because of their age. Article