A leading figure in Australian genetic medicine is urging the life insurance industry to help reduce public angst over DNA testing.

Professor Ronald Trent, who chairs the Human Genetics Advisory Committee for the National Health and Medical Research Council, floated the issue of direct-to-consumer tests available online and their inherent risks, at a life insurance conference in Sydney this month.

Professor Trent says people are mindful of their legal obligation to declare genetic test results when applying for life insurance.

He says the growing industry for relatively untraceable DNA testing kits supplied from overseas is making it easier to keep results secret, but they can be of questionable reliability and people are missing out on the associated medical support they need.

“It really becomes a problem when you are dealing with fairly serious medical conditions,” Professor Trent told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

He says there’s a perception in the community, particularly among those with genetic diseases, that life insurers are not doing the right thing. People want appeal processes and they are asking why the British life insurance industry has a moratorium on using test results (in place till 2014).

Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA) CEO John Brogden questions the extent of community concern.

The latest available data is from 2005, and shows eight life insurance proposals out of 455,000 applications were rejected on genetic grounds.

“Particular genetic testing results don’t automatically mean there will be any restriction on people’s insurance,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “In fact, in the majority of cases people either get unrestricted or part-restricted insurance.”

He says Australia’s life insurers are not shying away from the unfolding scientific, ethical and business debate on genetic testing, as evidenced by the lack of an “excuse to do nothing” that a moratorium would provide. 

“Insurance premiums need to be kept affordable for all people,” Mr Brogden said. “If there’s information available about a person that is critical to underwriting and that’s not known and they claim, then that just makes it more expensive for everybody.”

Mr Brogden says IFSA is very concerned about the consequences for people who use genetic tests available over the internet that may be “wildly inaccurate”.