Survey of state insurance commissioners concerning genetic testing and life insurance
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, Waltham, MA (United States)
Rapid advances in genetic testing have stimulated growing concern about the potential for misuse of genetic data by insurance companies, employers, and other third parties. Thus far, reports of genetically based discrimination in life insurance have been anecdotal. Reasoning that state insurance commissioners were likely to be aware of (1) the extent of current use of and interest in genetic tests by life insurers and (2) consumer complaints about insurance being denied because of genetic condition or because of genetic test results, the authors conducted a survey of that group. They received responses from 42 of the 51 jurisdictions. Results suggest (1) that those who regulate the life insurance industry do not yet perceive genetic testing to pose a significant problem in how insurers rate applicants, (2) that life insurers have much legal latitude to require genetic tests, and (3) that so far few consumers have formally complained to commissioners about the use of genetic data by life insurers.
- OSTI ID:
- 7007003
- Journal Information:
- American Journal of Human Genetics; (United States), Vol. 51:4; ISSN 0002-9297
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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