Open AccessGenetic testing, life insurance, and adverse selection
Author(s) -
P S Harper
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
philosophical transactions - royal society. biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.753
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1471-2970
pISSN - 0962-8436
DOI - 10.1098/rstb.1997.0086
Subject(s) - adverse selection , context (archaeology) , scope (computer science) , genetic testing , selection (genetic algorithm) , population , business , actuarial science , mendelian inheritance , life insurance , biology , genetics , computer science , medicine , environmental health , paleontology , artificial intelligence , programming language , gene
Life insurance is a key element of the UK social structure in terms of family protection and house purchase; it thus needs to be viewed in this broad context, rather than solely as a commercial activity. Insurers have not so far actively requested genetic tests for life insurance, but have insisted on knowing of and being able to act on existing genetic test information. The main reason given for this has been to avoid serious adverse selection; however, this has never been adequately estimated. Review of the different major categories of Mendelian genetic disorders suggests that the scope for adverse selection is extremely limited and that insurers would lose little, and possibly gain more, by foregoing the disclosure and use of this information in relation to life insurance policies of 'normal' size and nature. The likely future use in service of genetic tests based on susceptibility or population screening makes it especially important that the issue is rapidly resolved for Mendelian disorders; so far there is no sign that insurers are willing to achieve this.