Australians are being warned about the hidden risks of genetic testing, as experts raise concerns over how life insurers are using DNA data to discriminate against applicants.
Genetic counsellor and public health researcher Dr Jane Tiller says many people are unaware that results from medical genetic tests can legally be accessed by life insurers under a long-standing exemption in the Disability Discrimination Act.
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“Life insurers can say, ‘we’re not going to cover you, or your premium will be double,’” Dr Tiller said on The Briefing podcast.
“It’s a significant issue that’s impacting people’s willingness to undertake testing that could save their lives,” she said.
Unlike health insurance, which is community-rated in Australia, life insurance is risk-rated — meaning insurers can adjust premiums or deny cover based on a person’s medical history, including their genetic risk of disease.
Dr Tiller co-leads a study at Monash University offering genetic testing to young Australians for conditions linked to breast cancer, bowel cancer and heart disease.
However, more than half of those who declined testing cited concerns over future insurance implications.
“We see people often deciding not to have genetic testing that could save their life because they’re worried about these financial implications.
The federal government last year committed to banning the use of genetic test results in life insurance underwriting, but the promised legislative change has not yet been introduced.
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