The legislation would also give health maintenance organizations more flexibility in setting premiums.

Finally, the new rule could lead many insurers to set premiums at a higher, healthier level as a means of bolstering their capital.

The independent agents argue that an autonomous rating body should be established to set premiums for the association.

The measures, pending in both houses of Congress, would also prevent insurers from setting premiums based on genetic information.

Worse, the bill may set premiums to managed-care companies too low for them to provide quality care.

In California, insurance companies are required to give more weight to the driving record than to where the driver lives in setting premiums.

This year, the Legislature reversed course and, within limits, permitted the companies to use health conditions in setting premiums.

Medical insurers do not distinguish between the seven emirates in setting premiums.

To win customers, catastrophic-illness insurers would have to set low premiums.