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Time to End the Use of Genetic Test Results in Life Insurance Underwriting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Mark A. Rothstein
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Type
Columns: Currents in Contemporary Bioethics
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 46 , Issue 3: The Medicalization of Poverty; Perspectives of Alzheimer's Disease: Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues , Fall 2018 , pp. 794 - 801
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2018

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References

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A related technology already is used in the secondary life insurance market. GWG Holdings purchases life insurance policies in the secondary market. Its subsidiary, Life Epigenetics, uses epigenetic technology (levels of certain methylated biomarkers) to predict life expectancy of the policyholders. See “Life Epigenetics, GWG Holdings' Insurtech Subsidiary, Releases Infographic Timeline of the Impact of Epigenetics on the Insurance Industry,” December 7, 2017, available at <https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/12/07/1247777/0/en/Life-Epigenetics-GWG> (last visited August 3, 2018). Although there is little evidence in the literature confirming the validity of this test, the company plans to sell the technology to other insurance companies. “GWG Life Becomes First Insurtech Firm to Collect Epigenetic Samples to Analyze Biomarkers of Life Insurance Policy Holders,” March 2, 2017, available at <https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/03/02/930557/0/en/GWG-Life-Becomes-First> (last visited August 3, 2018). (last visited August 3, 2018). Although there is little evidence in the literature confirming the validity of this test, the company plans to sell the technology to other insurance companies. “GWG Life Becomes First Insurtech Firm to Collect Epigenetic Samples to Analyze Biomarkers of Life Insurance Policy Holders,” March 2, 2017, available at (last visited August 3, 2018).' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A+related+technology+already+is+used+in+the+secondary+life+insurance+market.+GWG+Holdings+purchases+life+insurance+policies+in+the+secondary+market.+Its+subsidiary,+Life+Epigenetics,+uses+epigenetic+technology+(levels+of+certain+methylated+biomarkers)+to+predict+life+expectancy+of+the+policyholders.+See+“Life+Epigenetics,+GWG+Holdings'+Insurtech+Subsidiary,+Releases+Infographic+Timeline+of+the+Impact+of+Epigenetics+on+the+Insurance+Industry,”+December+7,+2017,+available+at++(last+visited+August+3,+2018).+Although+there+is+little+evidence+in+the+literature+confirming+the+validity+of+this+test,+the+company+plans+to+sell+the+technology+to+other+insurance+companies.+“GWG+Life+Becomes+First+Insurtech+Firm+to+Collect+Epigenetic+Samples+to+Analyze+Biomarkers+of+Life+Insurance+Policy+Holders,”+March+2,+2017,+available+at++(last+visited+August+3,+2018).>Google Scholar
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