Would have been a tad difficult as a muslim.
But I bet she's still a feminist to this day and wants to be free of the patriarchy

I meant before she turned Muslim. She was ordained as priest in 1999.

No worries, but that isn't really true either. Basic health insurance is the same for men and women, same with accident insurance. Only if you want to have additional insurance gender plays a role, same is true for other insurances, e.g. car insurance is higher for men.

Not now it's not, in the UK at least. They raised all women's premiums to be in line.

Women do pay more- a small amount for basic insurance than men. My understanding is that the theory is that women utilize more services.

It’s very true in practice as well. For instance, my wife pays higher premiums but she also utilizes services more often. She had several surgeries and pregnancy delivery costs incurred over the same period of time, in which I only used my medical aid sporadically.

It could be other way around that female needs less medical attention than male, but assuming planned pregnancy and maternity leave, these factors always increase women’s medical costs.

Yep. This.

Also, all my past employers had different % for non mandatory insurance, and I can assure you that women % were higher and, at the end of the month, you could see the difference in salary. A little bit of this, a little bit of that ...

And don't get me started on age! Health insurance for women past 45 is way more expensive than it is for men the same age.

As you said, because women utilize more services (like breast cancer screenings, or pregnancies), they cost more (in theory) ...

Same analogy applies to men as well, increased prostate cancer risk, frequent PSA tests, stroke or heart-attack risks related to stress at work. Women tend to outlive men so their contributions to the system may well last longer.

In my experience, men tend to dismiss "minor" health problems compared to women.

Women have to go see a gyno pretty much every couple of years, even if all is well. Men tend to go when something is wrong. I would like to see men getting a prostate screening every couple of years, they would be horrified!

Being preventative means more frequent check ups but maybe less important costs when something is found. Not being preventative means fewer check ups and more important costs when something is found too late. So maybe girls should pay less for premiums, oder?

It’s all about growing the awareness and cultivating culture of healthy lifestyle, regular checkups, self diagnosis. Many men do not find time or see reason for regular doctor visits but women at certain age tend to develop often hypochondria symptoms.

Maybe only those with male GPs?

I can relate. I think it's great that we could choose and we have partners that support our decisions, you can see this is not a given. About earning, I think it's not just about the same level of education but also about the field or specialty you have. When I was the one who earned significantly more in our couple, it was mainly because OH had chosen to stay in academia whereas I was looking forward to working in the industry right after uni graduation. Get a real job. Or at least an internship. lol And learn. Earning more, that's funny, it didn't bother me then as it doesn't bother OH now. But I think there would still be a gap now (not gender related) even if I would work full time. Gig economy might suit me now but I have some other plans. I don't think we ever wanted to reverse roles. We're very aware and grateful things have been good for both of us so far.

Men also die in ways that doesn't imply costs for the health system when compared to women. For example, strokes are more frequent in men. People who contributed their whole economically lives to the system dies without generating large bills. They die at home or disconnected from a respirator a few days in the hospital.

Younger men die more than younger women in accidents. Older men suicide more than older women. Of course, there are costs related to forensics, legal issues and cleaning the road or the train tracks, but the bills do not become an increase in health insurance costs.

On average and when compared to women, men don't get sick, men die.

What on earth??? And this is the general mysogny inherent in health care. No.

Absolutely. I know how lucky i am to have had the choice and have had the space to take my career in slightly different direction. Having more time with Buggerlugs 1 and 2 has also been a gift.

I forced OH to find the time. I dragged him for a general check-up and he discovered he had a genetic condition that he had no idea about. (should have, but never checked family's history) Perhaps when you operate as a couple, once you are in one, of course, you do get more out of life so to speak? Perhaps I should give him more autonomy? lol

It is starting to feel then that calculating equality is not going to go through bills and paychecks. I also think that autonomy manifests itself through diverse scenarios. Single parents can talk about autonomy and how the system often short-changes them...if they had the time or felt the need. I like the empowering messages in this thread to learn to negotiate for oneself. Not looking for entitlement, that takes too long and functions less. Nor does it give satisfaction of one's achievement.

We are all equal in death, Axa, I think.

Don't forget the discipline!

Not for mandatory basic insurance. Gender is not an allowed factor for calculation of premiums, only region and to some degree age (Art. 61 KVG).

Not true, people aged over 25 pay the same living in the same area with the same company for basic insurance