If those characteristics are higher risk, then they should be priced higher. And if they aren't higher risk, then a company using them to discriminate will be o

If those characteristics are higher risk, then they should be priced higher. And if they aren't higher risk, then a company using them to discriminate will be outcompeted by a company that is not. You realize that, say, age is a protected class and yet an obvious risk factor, right? Do you think all ages should have the same rates for car insurance? Mandating everyone pay the same price when their risks are different distorts incentives and makes us all worse off on average. Some may benefit in the short term by being subsidized by others, sure. Even if subsidies were socially desirable, price regulation is one of the least efficient ways to implement such subsidies. If the concern is that some people can't afford insurance because they're higher risk, then you can have subsidies targeted to them that pay for their insurance. That's far better than forcing an insurance company to take a loss on them.