Transsexual gets insurance hike after operation

By Rachel Charman • March 2, 2007 - 13:34

She was shocked to discover that, as a woman, her annual premium was more expensive. photo: powerbooktrance@flickr.com

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A Swedish woman is outraged that her car insurance costs shot up following her gender-reassignment surgery.

Carina Bladh from Linköping, central Sweden, became a woman at the end of last year, and at the same time bought a new Audi A6.

She was shocked to discover that, as a woman, her annual premium was 1,200 kronor (over £87) more expensive.

Jan Samuelsson, a spokesman for the insurance company Folksam, explained to the newspaper Linköpings Tidning "that the amount paid depends on which demographic group a customer belongs to."

Samuelsson said: "She has moved from one group to another. It's like moving from Linköping to Täby, which would also mean a higher premium."

"In this case the effect has been negative. If she had been 25 the effect would have been positive."

But Bladh was not satisfied with this. According to TheLocal.se, she said: "I think it's disgusting. It's clearly discrimination. There's no logic to it."

Folksam announced on Thursday that Bladh's case had been reviewed and her premium would be reduced to its former rate.

Despite this, Bladh is determined to highlight the issue further.

She hopes that "this is going to come back and bite them", and is considering taking her grievance to Sweden's discrimination ombudsman.

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