Australia to ban life insurance companies from discriminating based on genetic testing results

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Australia to ban life insurance companies from discriminating based on genetic testing results

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/10/australia-insurance-company-discrimination-genetic-testing

Albanese government says people have been reluctant to get life-saving early testing because of the risk of being refused insurance

Australia to ban life insurance companies from discriminating based on genetic testing results

Life insurance companies will be banned from discriminating against people based on genetic testing under federal government moves designed to encourage greater use of predictive technology in preventive health.

The assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, will announce on Wednesday that life insurers will be banned from using predictive genetic testing results in their underwriting assessments.

“This change will give Australians the confidence to undertake genetic testing without fear it will impact their ability to access financial security through life insurance,” Jones said in comments provided before the formal announcement.