Genetic information and life insurance: international regulations and the right to underwrite in the era of post-genomic genetics

The completion of the Human Genome Project marked the beginning of a new era, the era of the Genome, highlighting a new understanding of human biology. The advances in genetics have raised concerns of potential discrimination against persons in various sectors - social, working, insurance - on the basis of our genetic make-up. In many countries insurers are not allowed to process any type of genetic data and regulations do not make a distinction between the various types of genetic tests. This situation may seriously jeopardise insurance companies as it can lead to adverse selection, causing a significant information unbalance in favour of insureds. Genetic tests will surely be among the most important diagnostic tools in clinical practice. It will be impossible to leave out these tests by way of legal provisions, forcing insurers to ignore such breakthrough in medical science. This is the future of medicine. Thanks to medical progress, insurers have always been able to extend insurability, reducing significantly the cost of covers. Insurance companies are always focused on customer satisfaction in compliance with any necessary and sound technical standards.

Keywords: Adverse selection, Evidence-based rating, Genetic tests, Information symmetry, Private and voluntary life insurance, Right to underwrite

Patrizia Marocco, Genetic information and life insurance: international regulations and the right to underwrite in the era of post-genomic genetics in "SALUTE E SOCIETÀ" En3/2010, pp 163-181, DOI: 10.3280/SES2010-003011-ing