The Australian government has introduced legislation banning the use of adverse genetic-test results in life insurance underwriting. The measure will apply to life insurance contract decisions made on or after the date of commencement.
Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services, Dr Daniel Mulino, said in a Treasury statement that the “government introduced the legislation to give Australians the confidence to undertake genetic testing without worrying about the effect on their access to affordable life insurance”.
Adverse genetic-test results refer to genetic findings that indicate a higher-than-average risk of developing certain diseases, even if the individual is currently healthy.
The introduction of the Bill follows consultations with community members, medical practitioners, genetic researchers, and insurance providers.
Response
The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) has welcomed the introduction of the Bill. In a statement, CALI CEO Christine Cupitt said the legislation is an important milestone for Australians and their families, and a further step forward for Government and industry in reinforcing confidence in both predictive genetic testing and life insurance.
“This legislation will give Australians more certainty and empower them towards better health outcomes,” said Ms Cupitt.
“No one should be deterred from taking predictive genetic tests that help them to better manage their health. As life insurers, we want people to access the information they need to make informed choices about their health and to manage it proactively,” she said.
Australia’s life insurers have long supported the responsible use of predictive genetic testing. In 2019, the industry introduced a mandatory standard that restricts the use of predictive genetic test results in underwriting, ensuring Australians could pursue testing with confidence.
Ms Cupitt said the rapid evolution of genetic science has made government action both timely and necessary.
The industry also welcomes the inclusion of a five-year review of the legislation, which will be essential to ensure the law keeps up to date with the ever-evolving predictive genetic testing landscape.
CALI represents the life insurance industry and advocates for national policy that improves access to life insurance protection for Australians.