Should You get A Genetic Test?

Advances in medical science mean that it's now possible to get screened for many medical conditions and on the face of it, that is a good thing.

Almost daily, there are announcement of new tests becoming available for this disease and that and of course, anyone who's had a family member suffer from a disease that could be genetic will, quite rightly, want to get tested if only to rule out the possibility of either getting that illness themselves, or passing onto their children.

Knowledge is power. Genetic testing is a good thing.

But, there's a downside. If you test positive for a genetic disorder, even if you show no symptoms and you're perfectly healthy (like me), insurance companies will use your genetic test results against you.

The Association of British Insurers, on their web site state,

"Customers will not be required to disclose the results of predictive genetic tests for policies up to £500,000 of life insurance, or £300,000 for critical illness insurance, or paying annual benefits of £30,000 for income protection insurance (the 'financial limits')"

That's ok then isn't it? After all, they say that they won't use test results and that the customer won't even have to divulge whether they have had testing carried out.

They go on to say,

"Above these limits, you may need to tell insurance companies about certain genetic test results when applying for certain types of insurance. They will only be interested in a genetic test result where the Government’s Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC) has approved it for insurers to use with the type of insurance you are applying for".

The only test results currently approved by the GAIC are for Huntingdon Disease.

The strange thing is though, that when certain companies go through their medical questionnaires over the telephone with potential policyholders, they specifically ask whether you've had any form of genetic testing.

They go further than this too.

Some insurance companies will now send a nurse from a third party, private company to the policyholder's house to conduct a further medical questionnaire in person.

Whilst the questions asked might not specifically ask about genetic testing, they ask questions about parents' health such and siblings health.

Why would they ask these questions if they aren't looking for a genetic link?

If you are considering getting tested for any condition whatsoever, my advice is that you insist that the results are kept entirely confidential and are not disclosed to your GP.