Final answer:
An insurance application cannot ask about an applicant's sexual orientation. While gender, address, and age are typically asked to assess risk, sexual orientation information is protected and its disclosure is not relevant to insurance policy assessments.
Step-by-step explanation:
An insurance application cannot legally ask for information about an applicant's sexual orientation. Other common details such as gender, address, and age are typically standard questions on an insurance application and are used to assess risk and determine policy costs. However, it's important to recognize the difference between what is standard and what is lawful. In the context of employment and hiring processes, there are clear regulations that prevent potential employers from asking about personal characteristics such as sexual orientation, as this could lead to discrimination. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ensures that federal laws against discrimination are upheld, which apply to job applications and can also provide guidance on what is appropriate for other types of applications like insurance.