The cost of gene info
GENETIC information is extremely precious and insurance companies should not be allowed a free-hand with them: this is the opinion of mps who form the Science and Technology Committee in UK's House of Commons. So far, the insurance firms have been treating the issue of genetic testing with "undue complacency", say the disapproving Parliamentarians. Now, the Committee has issued an ultimatum to insurance companies: they must come up with an acceptable voluntary system for handling genetic information and preventing unfair discrimination against carriers of harmful genes within a year, or face strict legislation.
This ruling comes as a report submitted by the Committee in end July which recommended the establishing of a human genetics commission to regulate genetic tests, medicines and screening services, and to ensure that genetic information is not misused. It is not as if the insurers have been particularly damaging, admits the Committee. In fact, the use of genetic information in insurance is limited and raises no new problems. But the issue requires far more delicate handling. The industry should recognise "fears that the need to disclose genetic information to insurers could deter people from taking genetic tests," as they might adversely affect their ability to obtain insurance. And this reluctance might prove to be disastrous. Tests developed in future could help individuals at risk to take preventive action. They could also lead to better drug inventions and treatments of genetically linked diseases. And all this would halt if people were to develop a phobia for the prying eyes of the insurance companies.
However, if the companies are denied all access to genetic information, then people who have had a test exposing them to high risks can over-insure themselves, which would considerably raise premiums for all. So the mps suggest a overcome the problem to some extent.
The insurers may refrain from demanding genetic tests, but if a policy holder dies from a disease agreed to be predictable by genetic test, the pay ment from the insurer would be reimbursed from an industry "pool" of money which would be filled by all insurers. "This would spread the cost ... over the whole topulation," assert the MPS.