Insurance companies and the British government have agreed a five year extension of the moratorium on the use of results of DNA tests for insurance purposes.
The agreement with the Association of British Insurers, which represents most insurance companies in the United Kingdom, imposes a five year moratorium on the general use of genetic test results by insurers from 1 November 2001, except in specific circumstances.
Genetic test results will be used only when authorised by the government's Genetics and Insurance Committee for life insurance policies of more than £500000 ($724000) and other policies of more than £300000 ($434000). The agreement includes a provision for reviewing these financial limits after three years and for an impartial and independent complaints mechanism.
Mary Francis, director general of the Association of British Insurers, said: “This agreement will enable us to have a rational and informed discussion about the best way forward for the UK on genetics and insurance.
“Insurers, the public, and parliament have many understandable concerns about the use of genetic test results. There is a complex web of issues, including the principle that insurance companies should have access to the same information about applicants. We now have the breathing space to get this policy right and achieve agreement on the best way forward.”
Health minister Philip Hunt welcomed the agreement but warned that the government was prepared to enforce the moratorium through legislation if there was evidence of serious and persistent non-compliance by the insurance industry.
His comments reassured Helena Kennedy QC, chair of the Human Genetics Commission, who noted: “Our research has shown very real public concern on the issue of genetics and insurance, and it is essential that the system enjoys the confidence of the public before any further developments take place.”
A statement from the Consumers' Association, an organisation representing consumers in the United Kingdom, said that the moratorium provided a useful delay on the use of genetic information for insurance purposes. However, it pointed out that monitoring by the Association of British Insurers was self regulation and suggested that an independent regulatory mechanism would be more appropriate.
The Consumers' Association thought that in the longer term an outright ban on the use of genetic information for insurance should be considered.
The Association of British Insurers' code of practice can be seen on the association's website: www.abi.org.uk