Many people aren’t aware that if you have genetic testing to check your risk of developing cancer or other diseases, the results might be used by life insurance companies to deny you cover. We don’t think people should be worse off if they take steps to protect their health. This is why we want the Australian Government to ban life insurers from using genetic test results (health insurers already can't use your genetic results to deny you cover).
The Government is consulting on options to address genetic discrimination in life insurance. It has put out 3 options ...
Many people aren’t aware that if you have genetic testing to check your risk of developing cancer or other diseases, the results might be used by life insurance companies to deny you cover. We don’t think people should be worse off if they take steps to protect their health. This is why we want the Australian Government to ban life insurers from using genetic test results (health insurers already can't use your genetic results to deny you cover).
The Government is consulting on options to address genetic discrimination in life insurance. It has put out 3 options: 1) do nothing, 2) legislate a total/partial ban on using genetic test results, or 3) legislate a financial limit on using genetic test results.
This is your chance to ask government for strong protections, by legislating a total ban on insurers using genetic results (without limits, caps or exclusions).
WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
** Consultation has now ended (31/01/2024), but the government is now making decisions about its response. You can still use this form to write to the Assistant Treasurer and your federal MP to ask them to support the introduction of a total ban.
The consultation paper [opens in new window] also asks some other questions, which you can answer too, if you like. They cover things like the impact of the current moratorium, and specifics about legislative & enforcement options.
Send an email to the government
** NOTE THE CONSULTATION PERIOD HAS NOW CLOSED (from 31 Jan 2024). However, the government is now making decisions about what action to take, so you can still write to government (the Assistant Treasurer and your federal MP) to ask for an update on the response to the consultation and to urge them to implement a total ban. The web form here will now enable you to do that.
This form will be sent directly to government. We've left the submission field blank so you can include your own words - your own experience is the most powerful. Please write about your story and why you believe a total ban is needed in Australia.
If you have experienced discrimination, or you/your family members have been worried about genetic testing based on insurance fears, please mention this.
The most important points are:
- Legislation must be introduced, to protect consumers, remove the fear of genetic discrimination and ensure government oversight of insurers' compliance.
- The legislation should not contain any limits, caps or exclusions, to ensure that consumers can be confident that their genetic results are fully protected. This is consistent with the approach taken in Canada. Partial consumer protection is not consumer protection.
- There needs to be a strong pathway for enforcement and consumer complaints, so that consumers know where they can go to get help if an insurer is not complying with the legislation.