Genetic testing can provide valuable information to mitigate personal disease risk, but the use of genetic results in life insurance underwriting is known to deter many consumers from pursuing genetic testing.
Many countries have restricted the use of genetic test results to assess individuals for risk-rated insurance products. Canada adopted the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNA) in 2017, which prohibits the use of genetic information in services including insurance, with no exceptions or financial limits.
Participants stated a strong preference for government regulation to ensure adequate protection against Genetic Discrimination in life insurance and provide certainty to individuals considering genetic testing. The Australian Government is now considering its policy response to its public consultation into the use of genetic results in life insurance underwriting.
Small Study: Results show low trust in the life insurance industry’s self-regulation, and strong support for legislation from the Australian Government. Even after the introduction of the moratorium, these consumers remained concerned about the implications of their genetic test results on life insurance, and these concerns affected decision-making about genetic testing. Participants also showed little knowledge of the moratorium, or were concerned about others not being informed about it.
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 