Predictive genetic testing provides individuals with information about their future risk of developing health conditions. Determining whether a genetic test could affect the insurance industry is complex and needs to be evaluated on a per-test basis.

Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure

Daniela Rodriguez-Rincon, Sarah Parkinson, Lucy Hocking, Hamish Evans, Emma Hudson, Katherine I. Morley

ResearchPublished Feb 3, 2022

Predictive genetic testing provides individuals with information about their future risk of developing health conditions. Theoretically, predictive genetic tests could have positive or negative impacts on the insurance industry. If genetic test results stimulate actions to reduce health risks, they may reduce costs to insurers. If disclosed to insurers, such information may allow them to better understand individual- and population-level risks and make insurance more affordable. However, if individuals who know they are at high genetic risk of becoming ill or dying are more likely to apply for insurance than those not at high risk, this may lead to an unanticipated increase in claims. It may be exacerbated if people at low genetic risk are less likely to apply for insurance compared to the general population. If this happened on a large scale it could make the insurance market unsustainable. Determining whether a genetic test could affect the insurance industry is complex and needs to be evaluated on a per-test basis.

The Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, a collaboration between RAND Europe and the University of Cambridge, developed a framework for evaluating the potential impacts on the UK insurance industry arising from predictive genetic tests. It considers the characteristics of genetic tests and behavioural aspects that influence their uptake. It is intended to provide a transparent approach for evaluating whether a specific condition for which a test is available could impact the insurance industry, currently or in the future, and understanding the key factors that influence this.

Key Findings

  • The potential impact on the insurance industry of predictive genetic tests is determined by a complex interplay of factors related to the genetic test itself, engagement with testing, the genetic architecture of the condition, the capacity for reducing risk and the cost of treatment.
  • Health-related reasons motivate individuals to undergo predictive genetic testing, but the extent to which people act on genetic test results or share them with healthcare providers and insurers appears to be limited.
  • Key factors that may change the impact of genetic tests are better characterisation of genetic risk, development of new interventions, and increased test access.

Topics

Document Details

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Rodriguez-Rincon, Daniela, Sarah Parkinson, Lucy Hocking, Hamish Evans, Emma Hudson, and Katherine I. Morley, Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure, RAND Corporation, RR-A1209-1, 2022. As of October 5, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1209-1.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Rodriguez-Rincon, Daniela, Sarah Parkinson, Lucy Hocking, Hamish Evans, Emma Hudson, and Katherine I. Morley, Assessing the impact of developments in genetic testing on insurers' risk exposure. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2022. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1209-1.html.
BibTeX RIS

Research conducted by

The research described in this report was commissioned by the Association of British Insurers and conducted by RAND Europe.

This publication is part of the RAND research report series. Research reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND research reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.