scholarly journals Potential for Genetic Discrimination in Access to Insurance: Is There a Dark Side to Increased Availability of Genetic Information?

2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Adjin-Tettey
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
General Population ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Genetic Discrimination ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Legislative Framework

This article addresses the reliance on genetic information as part of the private insurance industry’s practice of risk segmentation whereby underwritingdecisions are based on risk information about individuals and groups as compared to the general population. The author argues that there are a number of concerns regarding reliance on genetic information in insurance underwriting, including uncertainty about what constitutes genetic information and the predictive value thereof, possible conflicts with human rights values, potential reductions in access to insurance, and the legal and ethical obligations of individuals who undergo testing, health professionals, and insurers. This article reviews the solutions that have been adopted in other jurisdictions and concludes that the use of genetic information is consistent with standard insurance industry practices. However, it is recommended that a legislative framework be established in Canada to regulate the use of genetic information.

Genomics, Insurance and Human Rights: Is there a Place for Regulatory Frameworks in Africa?

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-34
Author(s):  
Vincent O. Nmehielle
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Genetic Discrimination ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Health Care Context ◽  
Insurance Decisions

AbstractThis article examines the human rights dimension of genetic discrimination in Africa, exploring the place of regulatory frameworks while taking into account the disadvantaged position of the average African. This is in response to the tendency of insurance companies toward making health insurance decisions on the basis of individual genetic information, which could result in genetic discrimination or health insurance discrimination based on a person's genetic profile. The author considers such questions as the intersection between human rights (right to life, health, privacy, human dignity and against genetic discrimination) in relation to the insurance industry, as well as the obligations of state and non-state actors to promote, respect, and protect the enjoyment of these rights. The article argues that African nations should not stand aloof in trying to balance the competing interests (scientific, economic and social) presented by the use of genetic information in the health care context and that ultimately it is the responsibility of states to develop domestic policies to protect their most vulnerable citizens and to prevent entrenched private discrimination based on an individual's genes.

scholarly journals Genetic Discrimination in Access to Life Insurance: Does Ukrainian Legislation Offer Sufficient Protection against the Adverse Consequences of the Genetic Revolution to Insurance Applicants?

Laws ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Mykhailo Arych ◽  
Yann Joly
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Family History ◽  
Life Insurance ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Genetic Discrimination ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Application Forms

This paper presents an inter-disciplinary study of the risk for, and protections against, genetic discrimination in access to life insurance in Ukraine. It aims (i) to review questions related to genetic information, health status, and family history currently included in Ukrainian life insurance application forms; (ii) to analyze the Ukrainian legislation related to equity and nondiscrimination and to determine whether it provides adequate protection against genetic discrimination (GD). Research findings of our insurance application forms review show that Ukrainian life insurance companies ask broad questions about health and family history that may be perceived by applicants as requiring the disclosure of their genetic information. Our legal analysis shows that today there are no genetic specific law protecting Ukrainians people against GD in insurance. However, Ukrainian human rights legislation provides some protection against multiple grounds of discrimination and given the ratification by Ukraine of the European Convention on Human Rights it is possible that these grounds could be interpreted by tribunals as also including genetic characteristics. As a next step, Ukrainian researchers should develop a survey to obtain much needed data on the incidence and impact of GD in Ukraine. Following this it will be possible for policymakers to better assess whether there is a need for an explicit non-GD law in this country. Such a law would have the benefit of explicitly aligning Ukraine’s legal framework with that of many of its European partners.

scholarly journals Genetic discrimination: emerging ethical challenges in the context of advancing technology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Riley Chapman ◽  
Kripa Sanjay Mehta ◽  
Brendan Parent ◽  
Arthur L Caplan
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
The United States ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Genetic Discrimination ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Discrimination In Employment

Abstract Genetic testing is becoming more widespread, and its capabilities and predictive power are growing. In this paper, we evaluate the ethical justifications for and strength of the US legal framework that aims to protect patients, research participants, and consumers from genetic discrimination in employment and health insurance settings in the context of advancing genetic technology. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and other laws prohibit genetic and other health-related discrimination in the United States, but these laws have significant limitations, and some provisions are under threat. If accuracy and predictive power increase, specific instances of use of genetic information by employers may indeed become ethically justifiable; however, any changes to laws would need to be adopted cautiously, if at all, given that people have consented to genetic testing with the expectation that there would be no genetic discrimination in employment or health insurance settings. However, if our society values access to healthcare for both the healthy and the sick, we should uphold strict and broad prohibitions against genetic and health-related discrimination in the context of health insurance, including employer-based health insurance. This is an extremely important but often overlooked consideration in the current US debate on healthcare.

Effectiveness of Customer Relationship Management Program in Insurance Companies

2013 ◽  
pp. 219-234
Author(s):  
Vikas Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Customer Relationship Management ◽  
Life Insurance ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Customer Relationship ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Before And After

Customer relationship management in the insurance industry is in the nascent stage. Firms are framing new strategies to combat stiff competition. Public and private insurance companies are implementing customer relationship programs to attract more customers and retain existing customers. The objectives of this study are (1) to study the customer relationship management program of the Life Insurance Corporation of India, and (2) to assess the effectiveness of this customer relationship management program. The study is based on the opinion scores of 182 policyholders of Life Insurance Corporation of India, who have been with the company for more than the last five years. Based on the average opinion scores before and after the implementation of the Customer Relationship Management program, it was concluded that the program is effective, which was evidenced by the results obtained from statistical analysis (Paired sample t-test).

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