Which underwriting factor is considered "illegal discrimination" in Georgia?

Denying coverage based on race or nationality is considered "illegal discrimination" in Georgia because it violates anti-discrimination laws that protect individuals from being treated unfairly based on inherent characteristics. Such discrimination undermines principles of equality and fairness and is explicitly prohibited in the insurance industry. Underwriting should be based on relevant risk factors and not personal characteristics that have no bearing on an individual's ability to receive coverage.

Other factors, such as health status, age, or income level, can be legitimate considerations in underwriting as they are often tied to the individual's risk profile. For instance, health status is typically used to determine the level of risk a person presents to an insurer, and age can affect life expectancy and policy pricing. However, when it comes to characteristics like race or nationality, these are immutable traits unrelated to the risk assessment in the context of insurance, making it illegal to use them for discrimination in coverage decisions.