At the end of 1997, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) responded to concerns about advances in the field of genetic testing and screening by issuing a mandatory Code of Practice outlining how insurance companies should use and handle genetic test information when considering applications for life (and other health-related) insurance. Its main points are:
· Insurers will not insist on applicants undergoing genetic tests.
· Applicants will not be asked to take a test, but existing test results should be given to the insurer if relevant, unless it has been stated that information about genetic tests is not required.
· Where someone has undertaken a genetic test voluntarily, the test results will affect the insurance only if they show a clearly increased risk of illness or death.
· Insurance companies will seek expert medical advice when assessing the impact of genetic test results on insurance.
· Insurers may take account of a test result only when the reliability of the test method and the test’s relevance have been established.
· Insurers will not ask about existing genetic test results in applications for life insurance up to a certain limit which are directly linked to a new mortgage for the purchase of a house to be occupied by the applicant (for example, a mortgage-protection policy).
· People applying for insurance will not be required to give the result of a genetic test undertaken by another person – such as a blood relative – and one person’s test result may not affect another’s application.
· If someone has an application for insurance turned down, or if there is a premium increase, the insurer will explain to that person’s doctor the reason for the rejection or increase.
· Insurers will not ‘cherry pick’ by offering a lower premium to someone on the basis of the results of genetic tests that a person may have undertaken.