Australians denied life insurance over genes: study - Lateline
January 21st, 2009 | by Rick |WeAreChangeBrisbane asked:
A new study has revealed that some Australians have been denied life insurance, based on their genetic makeup. Scientists are calling for genetic tests used by insurance companies, to be re-examined.
KEITH
19 Responses to “Australians denied life insurance over genes: study - Lateline”
By AUGUST on Jan 22, 2009 | Reply
STACEY
There are car insurance companies who cover people who are “un-insurable”. Those companies stepped in and filled a void. Yes? The same thing will happen here. Additionally, the mainstream insurance companies will probably find they will actually lose money by “screening-out” customers and will find it’s in their best interest to keep as many people as they can. Also, this could end up boosting research into gene therapy. Why not strive to repair the sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis genes?
By NELSON on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply
JOE
I believe your missing my point.
If an insurance company screens people’s genes then no doubt they’ll look for people who’ll have no chance of taking out insurance. How’s that fit in with the definition of insurance?
By NEAL on Jan 26, 2009 | Reply
WILLIS
I gave you the answer. Insurance companies that accept those who have been turned away elsewhere. If a private company does not want you as a customer, that is their right. Entrepreneurs will step in and fill the void. Thanks for posting the definition of insurance. Look-up capitalism next or, better yet, watch some of the Ron Paul videos you have subscribed to because he would say the same thing. You cannot force a company to keep customers it doesn’t want.
By CLAY on Jan 29, 2009 | Reply
BENJAMIN
Eugenics:
The study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, esp. by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics)
By RUDOLPH on Jan 30, 2009 | Reply
RUSSEL
“If insurance companies will no longer insure people with genetic abnormalities, where will they go for coverage?”
That’s the problem isn’t it.
That’s why it’s called insurance.
1. The act of insuring, or assuring, against loss or damage by a contingent event; a contract whereby, for a stipulated consideration, called premium, one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by certain specified risks.
There is no perfect answer but genetic screening is eugenics.
By BUFORD on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
SHANE
Why shouldn’t a private company earn a profit?
By DOUGLAS on Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
JOHNNIE
If insurance companies are discriminating against people because of “faulty” DNA, what is wrong with starting an insurance company for those who can’t get insurance? I’m offering a solution. Hopefully it will never get to that but you’re sarcasm shows you’re not a very deep thinker. I’m not a eugenicist nor am I a fascist. Please tell us your solution to this problem? If insurance companies will no longer insure people with genetic abnormalities, where will they go for coverage?
By HENRY on Feb 7, 2009 | Reply
EMANUEL
Spoken like a true Eugenicist
“Start an insurance company for people with faulty genes”.
Why not just throw them in gas chambers? /sarcasm
By FREEMAN on Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
MATHEW
These are private insurance companies. They can discriminate if they choose. The last thing we need is the government getting involved. If you’re so worried about this issue, start an insurance company for people with faulty genes — problem solved.
By BORIS on Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
HIRAM
if insurers can’t discriminate and price people differently, there will be no progress in mitigating risk.
If you package people with wildly different risks together, the price is going to be wrong for half of them, and they will be subsidizing those who have a higher risk level.
Part of the reason why insurance prices are so high is because companies are not allowed to discriminate as much as they would. Low risk customers cannot get the low price their situation would dictate.
By MILES on Feb 14, 2009 | Reply
CHUCK
The vast majority of people have a family history of, and therefore a propensity for, illness. Insurance companies will give a better rate to a small minority, and will increase the rates for the rest. This is all done with one primary objective in mind: PROFIT!
By ADAM on Feb 17, 2009 | Reply
SEBASTIAN
WTF!
By WINSTON on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
ADRIAN
Wavelength, that’s something ****** would say.
Your just saying it a different way.
Sycophant.
By DINO on Feb 20, 2009 | Reply
NED
Let’s start with trimming you from society, scumbag.
By FREDERICK on Feb 22, 2009 | Reply
NOE
This sounds like Gattaca the movie.
The government will use stem cell , and the words “the government is here to help you”,and this is your national ID, to pass this in the u.s.a. .
By CHARLIE on Feb 25, 2009 | Reply
BOBBY
This makes sense to me. Those with a higher likelihood of survival should be given special treatment; better insurance rates, lower jail time, etc. so that the better attributes of our species carry on and the fat gets trimmed away.
By DAMIEN on Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
LOWELL
This is unacceptable. What next? No insurance for ‘lower classes’?
By NATHANIEL on Feb 28, 2009 | Reply
DARRIN
Won’t be long till all nations will have this UNacceptable DNA tactic to weasle out of the contracts –What happens to our bro’s ,over time hit’s us ALL –they just rename it ,,same old garbage tossed on the populations,EVERYWHERE –Thanks for posting !!
By MAURICE on Mar 3, 2009 | Reply
JAMEL
The UK dosent use DNA to screen clients due to the uncertianty over genetic science… So why are we different ? Have our insurance companies found something they havent - dont think so…