The importance of socialepidemical research of premium calculation of life and pension insurances

Abstract

Differences in mortality and morbidity depend not only on medical parameters but also on social determinants. Social epidemiology studies demonstrated the influence of general living conditions and social behavior on health status. This results should be taken into consideration by private insurance companies when calculating premiums in selected populations. It may be hazardous if only upper social classes are insured in pension schemes, for example. On the other hand, people in lower social classes have a higher risk of premature death and would also represent a risk for insurers with a portfolio including only this type of insured person.