A final decision on the use
of genetic testing by life insurers in the UK has again been put on
long-term hold. Originally due to expire this year, the Concordat
and Moratorium on Genetics, which dates back to 2001, has been
extended to 2017, the Association of British Insurers (ABI)
announced in early-April.

“The Concordat and Moratorium
on the use of predictive genetic test results works well for
consumers,” said ABI director of general insurance Nick Starling.
“It means people can insure themselves and their families, even if
they have had an adverse result from a predictive genetic
test.”

Under the moratorium, the
results of a predictive genetic test will not affect a consumer’s
ability to take out any type of insurance other than life insurance
over £500,000 ($800,000). Only around 3% of all policies sold are
above these limits, according to the ABI.

Above £500,000, insurers will
not use adverse predictive genetic test results unless the test has
been approved by the government. At present only the test for
Huntington’s Disease is approved.

Commenting on the extended
moratorium, the UK’s health minister Anne Milton commented: “This
is an excellent agreement that has benefited both patients and
consumers.

“The extension of the
moratorium will ensure that the public continue to have confidence
in using predictive genetic tests and being insured.”

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The use of genetics by
insurers has evoked strong public opposition since it was first
mooted in the UK in the 1990s. At the time, it had strong backing
from the government.

The issue of genetic testing
was the subject of an extensive study in 2003 published by the
Institute of Actuaries.

On the negative perceptions
of genetic testing, the study’s authors noted: “There is a
deep-seated fear that increased knowledge of any genetic mutations
may render individuals uninsurable, and thus lead to the
development of a significant genetic underclass.”

On the perspective of life insurers, the authors said:
“Insurers are worried about the practical and financial
consequences of an increasing number of people knowing from genetic
tests that they have a genetic mutation which increases their
susceptibility to illness which is either likely to lead to
premature death or to early claims.”