Genetic
testing for Life Insurance
At the end of 1997, the Association
of British Insurers (ABI) responded to concerns about
advances in the field of genetic testing and screening
by issuing a mandatory Code of Practice outlining how
insurance companies should use and handle genetic test
information when considering applications for life (and
other health-related) insurance. Its main points are:
· Insurers will not insist on applicants undergoing
genetic tests.
· Applicants will not be asked to take a test,
but existing test results should be given to the insurer
if relevant, unless it has been stated that information
about genetic tests is not required.
· Where someone has undertaken a genetic test
voluntarily, the test results will affect the insurance
only if they show a clearly increased risk of illness
or death.
· Insurance companies will seek expert medical
advice when assessing the impact of genetic test results
on insurance.
· Insurers may take account of a test result
only when the reliability of the test method and the
test’s relevance have been established.
· Insurers will not ask about existing genetic
test results in applications for life insurance up to
a certain limit which are directly linked to a new mortgage
for the purchase of a house to be occupied by the applicant
(for example, a mortgage-protection policy).
· People applying for insurance will not be required
to give the result of a genetic test undertaken by another
person – such as a blood relative – and
one person’s test result may not affect another’s
application.
· If someone has an application for insurance
turned down, or if there is a premium increase, the
insurer will explain to that person’s doctor the
reason for the rejection or increase.
· Insurers will not ‘cherry pick’
by offering a lower premium to someone on the basis
of the results of genetic tests that a person may have
undertaken.
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