Michelle Brasier faces a challenging decision as she has been informed of a 97% likelihood of her contracting cancer. The comedienne, renowned for incorporating her health risks into her popular comedy, faces the pivotal choice of undergoing a genetic test that could offer precise risk assessment. However, if she opts for this test, it might render her ineligible for life insurance.
Brasier has long been aware of her risk of disease, according to ABC News. Her father and brother died of cancer, while her sister was diagnosed with precancerous polyps in her stomach. Amidst contemplating her fate, a dilemma emerges as she fears creating a financial setback for her loved ones in the case of her death.
“I don't currently have life insurance and my partner and I are looking to buy an apartment,” Brasier said. “I just don't know what would happen if we get into that situation.”
Australia currently allows life insurers to consider genetic testing results when underwriting policies, prompting Brasier to join a growing campaign that calls for a total ban on this practice.
Jane Tiller, an ethical legal and social adviser specializing in public health genomics at Monash University, sheds light on the issue. Her three-year research paper, funded by the federal government, explores the impact of genetic discrimination in life insurance.
“We found, overwhelmingly, that people are deterred from having genetic testing because they are worried about the implications that genetic results might have for their life insurance,” said Tiller. “This means that some people don't get genetic testing that could save their lives.”
The study also monitored the efficacy of a self-regulated industry moratorium placed on the use of genetic information by life insurers in 2019, according to the ABC News report. The moratorium banned life insurers from requesting genetic testing results under a certain threshold. Stakeholders argue that the thresholds set are too low; in some cases, there were compliance issues and there was low public confidence in its effectiveness.
The federal government has contemplated the future regulation of genetic testing in life insurance. Options on the table include a total or partial ban on the use of adverse genetic testing results by life insurers or legislating a financial limit restricting the acquisition and utilization of genetic information, according to the report.
Christine Cupitt, chief executive of the Council of Australian Life Insurers, emphasised the industry’s support for reform.
“We agree that the federal government should regulate the use of genetic test results by life insurers in the underwriting process,” she said. “Regulation should ensure people are not dissuaded from taking a genetic test to arm themselves with the information they need to proactively manage their health.”
Tiller and other advocates propose aligning Australia with nations like Canada by implementing a total ban on the use of adverse genetic testing results. “In the next decade, we estimate every adult in Australia will be offered genetic testing. Everybody will be offered the potential for maybe life-saving genetic information,” she said.
People are invited to make submissions to the federal Treasury's consultation paper before the Jan. 31 deadline. Visit this link for more information: https://treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2023-467047
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