Recent Findings from Monash University Provides New Insights into Insurance (A Step Forward, but Still Inadequate: Australian Health Professionals’ Views On the Genetics and Life Insurance Moratorium): Insurance

2023 OCT 26 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators discuss new findings in Insurance. According to news reporting originating in Melbourne, Australia, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “In 2019, the Australian life insurance industry introduced a partial moratorium (ban) limiting the use of genetic test results in life insurance underwriting. The moratorium is industry self-regulated and applies only to policies below certain financial limits (eg, $500 000 of death cover).”

Funders for this research include Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia, National Heart Foundation of Australia.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Monash University, “We surveyed Australian health professionals (HPs) who discuss genetic testing with patients, to assess knowledge of the moratorium; reported patient experiences since its commencement; and HP views regarding regulation of genetic discrimination (GD) in Australia. Between April and June 2020, 166 eligible HPs responded to the online survey. Of these, 86% were aware of the moratorium, but <50% had attended related training/information sessions. Only 16% answered all knowledge questions correctly, yet 69% believed they had sufficient knowledge to advise patients. Genetics HPs’ awareness and knowledge were better than non-genetics HPs’ (p <0.05). There was some reported decrease in patients delaying/declining testing after the moratorium’s introduction, however, 42% of HPs disagreed that patients were more willing to have testing post-moratorium. Although many (76%) felt the moratorium resolved some GD concerns, most (88%) still have concerns, primarily around self-regulation, financial limits and the moratorium’s temporary nature. Almost half (49%) of HPs reported being dissatisfied with the moratorium as a solution to GD. The majority (95%) felt government oversight is required, and 93% felt specific Australian legislation regarding GD is required.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “While the current Australian moratorium is considered a step forward, most HPs believe it falls short of an adequate long-term regulatory solution to GD in life insurance.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: A Step Forward, but Still Inadequate: Australian Health Professionals’ Views On the Genetics and Life Insurance Moratorium. Journal of Medical Genetics, 2022;59(8):817-826. Journal of Medical Genetics can be contacted at: Bmj Publishing Group, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England. (BMJ Publishing Group - http://group.bmj.com/; Journal of Medical Genetics - http://jmg.bmj.com/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Jane M. Tiller, Monash University, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Fac Med Nursing & Hlth Sci, Melbourne, Vic 3004, Australia. Additional authors for this research include Grace Dowling, Paul Lacaze, Tiffany Boughtwood, Louise A. Keogh, Aideen M. McInerney-Leo, Andrea Belcher, Kristine Barlow-Stewart, Penny Gleeson, Anya Prince, Yvonne Bombard, Yann Joly, Martin Delatycki, Ingrid M. Winship and Margaret Otlowski.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-107989. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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