Attention Manley, Jackson and all the little Gnomes

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Self-employed Americans pay for their own insurance. Most insured people don't pay for their own insurance; their employer does.

The problem is, insurance companies, like any other business, are in it to make money, and they don't make money when they have to pay out claims. In the case of jockeys, it's not a case of if they'll be injured; it's when, how often and how badly. So they aren't an ideal insurance risk. Why would a company want to insure someone they won't make money off of? I can't see how the average workingman jockey could possibly afford the premiums for insurance with a high enough ceiling to cover severe injury or disability resulting from his job. They have to be high for covering him to be worth it to the company.

It's easy to have insurance for a drunk schmo who falls down the steps at the track because walking down the stairs is considered much less risky than riding in a race.

this is a good point...I think that jockeys should have a million $$ catostophic policy, but the cost of insurance is absurd...
I have a farrier friend who had to drop his insurance because the premiums were so high (since he works in a dangerous job) and some companies won't take him at all (cause he has a 'dangerous job')
My own employer pays my salary under one of his other companies...when I was added to the payroll the insurance for the entire company went up because I work with horses...one person increased the premiums for a company with 50 employees...it's maddening.