Genetic Ban in Britain

Genetic testing has become a major topic for debate in the life insurance industry, as tests using samples of blood, saliva or tissue can now indicate whether a person has inherited a tendency to develop certain potentially fatal diseases.

There are dozens of genetic tests available and doctors can order them for various reasons, including looking for genetic illnesses before symptoms appear.

As a result, life insurers could and probably will eventually turn down coverage or raise premiums, based entirely on the genetic predisposition of even healthy customers.

But in London, British insurers have agreed to extend a freeze on genetic tests to 2014 and allow consumers to purchase coverage without disclosing the adverse results of tests to predict a predisposition to cancer or heart disease.

The original moratorium was established in 2001 and covered life insurance policies worth up to 500,000 pounds ($972,400) and critical illness coverage up to 300,000 pounds. Only 3 percent of policies were sold are above those limits. Policies above these limits can ask customers to disclose some genetic results.

There remains debate and some feel that genetic testing and providing an insurer with your family medical history is no different and therefore the genetic testing information should be allowed when writing insurance policies.

In the U.S., lawmakers earlier this year approved a bill barring discrimination based on one's genetic predisposition. It bars insurers from turning down coverage but also prohibits employers from using the information to hire and fire employees. The law does not specifically deny raising the premiums based on the information.