Lobbyists for Australian life insurers have proposed an AUD$500,000 (USD$360,000) cap on policies for individuals who disclose adverse genetic testing results, the Australian reports.
As insuranceNews.com.au notes, life insurers in Australia cannot require customers to take genetic tests, but can ask about testing and base coverage or rate decisions on disclosed adverse results. This, it says, has led to concerns that some people would forgo testing because it could affect their insurance coverage and to Parliament to call on the Financial Services Council to make changes.
The Australian notes that MPs instructed FSC to model its moratorium on that of the UK, where there's a £500,000 (USD$650,000) limit for policyholders who have test positive for Huntington's disease. Instead, it says FSC's proposal "far harsher."
Under this proposal, customers seeking coverage below AUD$500,000 for death and total and permanent disability insurance, AUD$200,000 for trauma, and AUD$4,000 a month for income won't be asked about their genetic testing results. The limits, the Australian says, are not disease specific and it adds that FSC did not consult with Treasury, the Health Department, or genetics experts before announcing its proposal.
An FSC spokesperson tells insuranceNews.com.au that the limits are similar to those of Germany and Switzerland and higher than ones in the Netherlands and Sweden.