', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview');

Australians Fearing 'Genetic Discrimination' in Life Insurance

By Peter Vickers Insurance Brokers | insurance broker, life insurance services, comprehensive life insurance services, Blog, life insurance |

A Closer Look at Life Insurance.

Life insurance has always been a touchy subject for many Australians, let’s take a closer look.

Insurance is fairly straightforward. The higher the probability of a claim, the higher the cost of insurance cover. For life insurance, the asset being protected is yourself! So what happens when there are people with a higher likelihood of illness and disease? Life insurance is unique in that under section 46 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, an insurer can legally discriminate based on actuarially proven risk factors. Common premium differentiators are gender, occupation, smoker status and age. Further, an insurer assesses your health in a detailed underwriting screening process that captures a record of personal health circumstances at time of application. This underwriting process may also incorporate more thorough medical examinations and reporting from doctors. A blood test and medical exam with a nurse are common for higher sums insured and/or older applicants.

There have been reports of Australians having ‘Insurance discrimination fears’ and foregoing medical checks as a result.

To avoid this issue from developing further, there are suggestions that the Government introduce legislation addressing genetic testing and the availability of this data to life insurers. Presently, private health insurers are unable to use genetic test results to discriminate against applicants, but the exception for life insurance remains under section 46 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Many other countries have taken steps to prevent rapid developments in genetic testing availability and efficacy being used by an insurer to more prohibitively underwrite policies. Is it time Australia follows in their footsteps?

Read more...

Get the right cover for you! Talk to the team at  Peter Vickers Insurance Brokers on 1300 784 011

Categories

SUBSCRIBE


Join our newsletter subscription

SYDNEY


Suite 2/345 Pacific Highway,
Lindfield, NSW 2070

T: 61 2 9496 2300
services@pva.com.au


Peter Vickers Insurance Brokers

Suite 2/345 Pacific Highway
Lindfield NSW 2070
T: 1300 784 011
enquiries@pvib.com.au

WINDSOR


Suite 3, 31 Brabyn Street
Windsor, NSW 2756
T: 61 2 4577 4455
windsoroffice@pva.com.au


Follow us on Social Media @pvbglindfield   

© Copyright 2021 VICKERS BUSINESS GROUP Pty Ltd | Our Privacy Policy

Follow us on Social Media @pvbglindfield    


Chartered Accountants:  Liability Limited by a Scheme under the Professional Standards Legislation - AFSL 229302  Peter Vickers & Associates Pty Ltd ACN 003466813 | Peter Vickers Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd AFSL 229302 ACL 229302 ACN 074 294 081
Peter Vickers Insurance Brokers is part of the Steadfast broker network.