Genetic Testing & Life Insurance
How Does Genetic Testing Apply to Life Insurance?
Life insurance companies use genetic test results to determine which people have greater health risks. Those with greater chances of a genetic disorder can end up getting charged more, or can be rejected by the company
Ethical Concerns
- Whether or not we should have laws preventing insurance companies from using genetic tests.
- Privacy Issues?
- Can Insurance companies discriminate or refuse to take on a certain person due to their genetic tests?
The Actual Test
Biotechnology Tools & Techniques Used
Types of Genetic Screening
Methods
Other ways include... Microarrays
Chromosomal analysis
Metabolites analysis
Analysis of protein structure
DNA analysis
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Newborn Screening
Carrier Screening
Fetal Screening
Gel Electrophoresis and The Southern Blot
How Does it Affect Insurance?
How Do Insurance Companies Get A Hold of The Results?
if genetic testing has been done and the information is available to the applicant for insurance and/or the applicant’s physician, the insurer would request access to that information just as it would for other aspects of the applicant’s health history.
How Does it Work?
What Can We Expect In The Future?
Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing and Life Insurance.
Pro: It allows you to find out the risks you may have of genetic disorders or diseases.
Pro: If you have no problems with your genes your life insurance prices may be lower than those who have risks.
History...
Con: You may be subject to discrimination from life insurance
Con: Violation of Privacy
Genetic testing affecting life insurance is becoming more and more frequent today. But it is a generally new thing, so it doesn't have a very visible history.