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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Karen Middleton Political editor

Australia to ban life insurance companies from discriminating based on genetic testing results

Insurance Australia Stephen Jones Steve Robson
Genetic testing can be used for early diagnosis and treatment and in some cases can help prevent a disease developing. Life insurance companies in Australia will no longer be able to discriminate based on results.
Genetic testing can be used for early diagnosis and treatment and in some cases can help prevent a disease developing. Life insurance companies in Australia will no longer be able to discriminate based on results. Photograph: from2015/Getty Images

Life insurance companies will be banned from discriminating against people based on genetic testing under federal government moves designed to encourage greater use of predictive technology in preventive health.

The assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, will announce on Wednesday that life insurers will be banned from using predictive genetic testing results in their underwriting assessments.

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