'Genetics is not the issue': Insurers on genetics and life insurance

This article offers an analysis of the way private insurers deal with the issue of genetics and insurance. Drawing on specific written insurance sources, a reconstruction is made of internal debates on genetics and insurance within the private insurance world in Europe and the United States. The art...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:New genetics and society 2005-04, Vol.24 (1), p.79-98
Main Authors: Van Hoyweghen, Ine, Horstman, Klasien, Schepers, Rita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actuarial Analysis
Attitude Change
Bioethics
Data Collection
Europe
Genetic Testing
Genetics
Health Insurance
Humans
Industry - economics
Industry - ethics
Insurance
Insurance companies
Insurance Selection Bias
Insurance, Life
Lobbying
Organizational Policy
Private Sector
Public Policy
Public Relations
Risk Assessment - organization & administration
Risk Assessment - utilization
Science and technology
U.S.A
United Kingdom
United States
United States of America
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Summary:This article offers an analysis of the way private insurers deal with the issue of genetics and insurance. Drawing on specific written insurance sources, a reconstruction is made of internal debates on genetics and insurance within the private insurance world in Europe and the United States. The article starts by analyzing the way insurers initially framed the issue of genetics. It proceeds by showing how ideas with respect to this issue developed beyond public policy debates in the nineties. Although not a strictly linear development, a trend towards a change in perspective can be demonstrated: at the beginning most insurance companies took another stance than they do nowadays. The article concludes by questioning the effect of these changes within the insurance world for the definition of the problem with respect to genetics and insurance. Does taking into account the public concerns around genetics also include taking genetics as a public problem?
ISSN:1463-6778
1469-9915
DOI:10.1080/14636770500037834