Don’t force foolish underwriting

Re: “Fallout goes on after insurer denies policy because of HIV,” Jan. 28:

When, in heaven’s name, is this insanity coming to a halt? First, we bring ourselves to the very brink of economic ruin by pressuring financial institutions into making home loans that never should have been made. Now, we pressure insurance companies into writing policies that never should have been written. Suppose that, in consequence of this, the entire insurance industry (life, home, auto, health, etc.) should collapse – what then? Rest assured we would find ourselves in a crisis every bit as severe as the one we are in already.

Whether a policy should be written is not a decision for a court, judge, jury, insurance commissioner or some human rights advocate. It is a decision to be made by the company’s underwriters; and woe betide that company if they fail to follow/observe sound underwriting principles. You cannot write a cancer insurance policy for someone who already has the disease. You cannot write a life insurance policy for someone who will likely be stone dead before another year is out.

Dennis P. Roberts

Spokane