Federal Privacy Commissioner Asks Insurance Industry To Refrain From Using Genetic Test Info

Canada’s Privacy Commissioner is urging the life and health insurance industry to call on its members to not use genetic test information in their underwriting until it can be clearly shown that the tests are necessary and that they are effective in assessing risk. Currently, there is already in place a voluntary moratorium on asking insurance applicants to undergo genetic testing, and the new policy (dated July 10, 2014 and entitled “Statement on the use of genetic test results by life and health insurance companies”) goes further by urging the industry not to ask for such results where the results already exist. Quoting from the Statement referred to above, “One way to assess whether genetic results are necessary … to assess risks accurately and fairly would be to examine the impact on the industry if it were not allowed to use this information. To help our Office assess this question we commissioned two papers by experts in actuarial science and economics … [and] the two papers agree that … a ban on the use of genetic test results … would not have a significant impact on insurers or the efficient operation of insurance markets.” As noted in a recent article in The Globe and Mail, the issue has emerged in part because genetic testing has become quicker, more affordable and easier to source. Summary by: Richard Potter