Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics extended
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has today announced that the long-standing Concordat and Moratorium on Genetics, agreed with the Department of Health, has been extended to 2017.
The moratorium means the results of a predictive genetic test will not affect a consumer’s ability to take out any type of insurance, other than life insurance over £500,000.
Even above this amount, insurers will not use adverse predictive genetic test results unless the test has been specifically approved by the Government.
Only around 3% of all policies sold are above the limit and currently the only test so approved is for Huntington’s Disease.
The ABI’s director of general insurance and health, Nick Starling, comments: “The Concordat and Moratorium … works well for consumers … people can insure themselves and their families, even if they have had an adverse result from a predictive genetic test.”
He adds: “The moratorium has proved effective since its introduction in 2001.”
