To Think About


Genetic testing is making it increasingly possible to identify people at risk of various medical problems. If you are probably going to get cancer, or have a heart attack, and the insurance company knows it, insurance will be very expensive, so …

Some people propose that it be illegal for insurance companies to require testing as a condition of insurance, or to make the terms on which they offer insurance depend on test results.

What problems would that proposal raise? You may want to consider three different possibilities:

1. Nobody can be tested.

2. People can be tested, but  insurance companies are not permitted to require tests or make the rates they offer depend on test results.

3. People can be tested, and the insurance company is free to take account of test results in setting rates.