Search results
Your search for Annual General Insurance Overview Statistics 2014 resulted in 23 hits
-
FAQ
Can an insurer request that I take a genetic test in order to get insurance cover?
No. Insurers will not require or pressure any applicant to undertake a predictive or diagnostic genetic test in order to obtain insurance.
-
FAQ
I am applying for life insurance over £500,000 and have had a predictive genetic test for Huntington’s disease. What do I need to do?
If you are applying for life insurance over £500,000, you may need to disclose to an insurer if you have a predictive genetic test result for Huntington’s disease. If you intentionally do not disclose the test result, you may invalidate your insurance. However, you do not need to disclose the test result if you are applying for less than £500,000 of life insurance and if you do disclose it the insurer will ignore the result.
Just because you may have to disclose a test result for Huntington’s disease does not mean you will necessarily be refused insurance.
-
FAQ
Do I have to disclose any predictive genetic test results I receive through as part of a research study?
No. You will not need to disclose any predictive genetic test results that have been acquired as part of a research study, and an insurer will not ask you to disclose these results.
Even if you do (unintentionally) disclose this information to an insurer, the test result would be ignored by insurance companies and your application would be assessed as if this had not been disclosed. The insurer will not use it to refuse you insurance, charge you a higher premium, or impose conditions on your insurance.
-
FAQ
Will my additional screening or treatment affect my family member’s access to insurance or the premiums they pay?
No, your family members will not be asked or required to disclose this information on any applications for insurance. Insurers will usually ask about the medical history of your first degree family members (your parents and siblings). However, this will usually be limited to whether any of these family members have had a particular condition or diagnosis. In no case will an insurance company ask an applicant to disclose the predictive genetic test results of a family member.
-
FAQ
Why might an insurer ask for my consent to view my medical record, and what can the insurance company ask my GP?
The majority of life, critical illness and income protection insurance is based upon the information obtained on the application form, without any referral to GPs. In some cases, insurance companies may seek your consent to obtain a medical report from your GP as part of your application. In these circumstances, the insurer needs certain information from your GP to assess your application properly so that they make an informed decision regarding accepting or declining the application and charging the correct premium.
In applications for life insurance, the insurer is only interested in the diagnosis, treatment, severity and prognosis of a condition that could reduce your life expectancy. For critical illness insurance, the insurer is generally only interested in information about any of the conditions covered, and other health factors that affect the likelihood of you developing the conditions covered. For income protection insurance, the insurer is concerned with medical conditions that cause long-term absence from work.
Your GP will be told not to include any predictive genetic test results in their report to the insurer. If it is included, it will be ignored by the insurer.
Your insurer will not ask your GP about your participation in research projects.
Your insurer may ask your GP about the medical history of your first degree relatives. However, this information will only include what you have disclosed to your GP as part of your own medical records, and will only be in relation to a specific set of conditions.
-
FAQ
Can I view my medical report before it is sent to the insurance company?
Yes, you have a right to request to view your medical report before it is sent to the insurance company. Under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988, you also have a right to:
- amend the report if it is factually incorrect or contains information that is not relevant to your application (including the results of predictive genetic tests);
- tell the GP not to send the report to the insurer (which may affect your application); and,
- view the report up to 6 months after it has been sent to the insurer.
-
FAQ
If my relative is referred for predictive genetic testing as a result of scientific research that I participate in, do they need to disclose this test when they apply for insurance?
Yes, but only in the limited circumstances as set out in the Code (applying for life insurance over £500,000). If, as a result of genetic testing through scientific research, a relative who is not part of the research project is referred for genetic testing (called cascade testing), that relative’s genetic test result would not fall under the exemption of scientific research and they may need to disclose the result, if they apply for insurance. However, if your relative was referred for predictive genetic testing as part of a research study, they will not be asked by insurers to disclose any predictive genetic test result acquired.
-
FAQ
When applying for insurance, will I have to tell an insurer about additional screening or treatment I receive as part of my routine care, as a result of a genetic test taken through research that indicated an increased risk of ill-health?
Yes, if this information is requested on the application form. The application form will typically ask you for information relating to any screening or preventative treatments (including risk reduction surgery) you have received. These questions must be answered honestly and accurately, even if these relate to a condition or predisposition that is discovered through a research project.
-
FAQ
When I apply for insurance do I have to offer any additional information that is not requested on the form?
No. However, you must answer all questions on the application form honestly and accurately. Regarding the health details of relatives, you only need to disclose what has been requested and that you know about. If you are unsure about your family history of a specific condition, you do not need to seek out this information.
-
FAQ
Will this mean that I pay higher premiums or mean I am refused cover?
It is unlikely that disclosures about additional screening or preventative treatments alone will result in increased premiums or refusal of cover. However, it may alert the insurer to closely examine your personal medical and family history in order to be able to fully assess your application. Some insurers may also ask additional questions beyond those on the application form to gain as much detail as possible.
Any additional screening or preventative treatment that you undergo which is known to reduce the risk of a particular condition will be taken into account by the insurer in assessing your application and setting your premiums, which could result in a better outcome for you.
The insurer is obliged to justify any increased premiums or refusal of cover by demonstrating that there is an increased risk of you making a claim based on the facts collected at application.Insurance companies must provide you, if asked, with written reasons for:
- any extra premiums they charge;
- reducing the insurance cover that is provided;
- refusing an insurance application;
- rejecting a claim; or
- cancelling a policy.
If you have been diagnosed with a genetic condition or you have a family history of a particular condition, all of these factors may already affect any insurance applications you make. In this context, any additional screening or testing you receive because of a genetic finding may not have any (further) negative impact and could even be used by insurers to reduce any surcharge you would otherwise pay.