Genetic Testing

Don't volunteer for genetic testing if you intend to apply for life insurance any time soon.

Insurance companies are now routinely asking new customers if they have been genetically tested for any kind of inherited disease.

If your genetic test result was positive for an inherited conditon, your insurance premium will increase by at least one third.

Insurance companies are not supposed to ask about genetic testing. Association of British Insurers have a moritorium in place until 2014 that prevents insurance companies using genetic testing as an excuse to increase premiums.

This covers policies worth p to £500,000 for life insurance and up to £300,000 in critical illness insurance.

However, in August 2008, some insurance companies were still routinely asking, at proposal stage, whether customers have undergone any genetic testing - a clear breach of government guidelines.

Insurance companies can only ask about genetic testing relating to Huntingdons Disease. They cannot ask about any other kind of genetic condition - yet they continue to do so, simply because customers are unaware of the rules.

The companies that routinely asked me when I wanted a life insurance quotation were Legal & General and Friends Provident.

Legal & General also asked questions relating to genetic testing of my GP - another breach of the moritorium on genetic testing.

Even if a life insurance company doesn't ask directly about genetic testing, they have now stqarted asking questions about the health issues of immediate family - mother, father, brothers and sisters - all of which are designed to get round the genetic testing moratorium.

Before submitting yourself for genetic testing for any condition, be mindful of the fact that it is likely to affect any future life and critical insurance policies that you might take out, despite what the insurance industry says.

My own experience has demonstrated that even though I am healthy, the insurance companies have their own views - and reward that with their stated "minimum policy loading of 30%".

Don't fall for their lies. The UK insurance industry is using genetic testing to increase insurance premiums.