A test for the insurance industry: Life insurers claim they stand to lose unless allowed access to applicants' genetic information, but consumers insist such data should remain out of bounds
Article Abstract:
The private insurance industry has long been criticized for its insistence of using genetic information when drawing up premiums for life insurance policies. Politicians and consumer groups are concerned that certain genetic factors that are deemed unfavourable, may not actually determine a person's life expectancy. Insurers argue that genetic data is not different from other routinely requested information. The insurance industry needs to work with policy-makers, consumer groups and the medical establishment to develop a life insurance policy that will not require applicants to reveal previous genetic test results.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1998
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Genetic information and life insurance
Article Abstract:
Multiplex genetic testing will have important consequences for the insurance companies. According to the US Institute of Medicine's Committee on Assessing Genetic Risks, genetic testing will soon become a common medical practice and will make traditional pathological tests redundant. The DNA-based technology has the potential of predicting diseases whose symptoms have not developed at the time of test. People may take advantage of this fact and get insured. However, denying genetic information to insurance companies could seriously jeopardize both the company and the beneficiary financially.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1995
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Genetic testing and insurance
Article Abstract:
Genetic screening programs should be carried out only to reduce the risk faced by genetically susceptible individuals. A program of action should be developed to allow discussion and develop confidence in the mechanisms used to tackle genetic information. The benefits of the screening tests for insurance purposes go the consumers that have a low risk. However, genetic testing is not a good policy in insurance as it discourages the spreading of risks, and further research might show that most of the population contains genes that increase the health risks.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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