Australia to ban life insurers from using DNA screening results

A new law set to take effect on October 8 in Australia will prohibit life insurers from using DNA screening results to deny coverage or increase premiums. The reform follows a decade-long campaign led by Dr. Jane Tiller, an associate professor at Monash University, to address public fears regarding the use of genetic data by insurance companies.

Dr. Tiller, who recently received the Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science, Technology and Engineering, argues that the law will enable larger-scale studies in “preventative genomics.” Such research aims to identify high-risk individuals for conditions like cancer and heart disease before they manifest. While a $50 million federal budget request to test 100,000 people for three genetic conditions was rejected, the legislative change is seen as a critical step toward a potential national DNA screening program.