Today I learned about the “birthday rule” in the insurance industry. As described in the Web interface to my health insurance provider:

All insurance companies use the “birthday rule.” The parent with the date of birth that’s earlier in the year submits the claim to their plan first. Then the other parent submits the leftover amount to their plan.

~ Giant insurance company

I’m pleasantly surprised to learn of such a simple consensus having emerged in an industry I don’t associate with simplicity (sorry insurance-folk).