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40 Drake L. Rev. 507 (1991)
Genetic Testing and Insurance: Apocalypse Now

handle is hein.journals/drklr40 and id is 517 raw text is: GENETIC TESTING AND INSURANCE: APOCALYPSE NOW? Robert Lowe TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction ............................................................ 507 II. Insurance inthe United States ...................................... 511 A. Health Insurance Testing ....................................... 513 B. Risk Pools and Self-Insuring .................................. 515 III. Genetic Testing ....................................................... 517 IV . Adverse Selection ..................................................... 520 V. The Regulation of Insurance ........................................ 523 A. Unfair Discrimination .......................................... 525 B. Limits on Classifications ....................................... 528 V I. Conclusion ............................................................. 530 I. INTRODUCTION Deciphering the mysteries of the human genome holds the potential for great benefits in medicine and for society in general. At the same time, the ability to reveal innate differences among people poses a threat to many of our egalitarian institutions. Insurance, to the extent it levels the finan- cial risk associated with death, illness, and injury by spreading the burden of the unfortunate few among the many who are insured, is one such institu- tion. Even now, before the expected boom in genetic testing,' there is strong evidence insurers are discriminating against those genetically predis- posed to illness. At least one study indicates insurance discrimination * J.D., Harvard Law School, 1990. Associate of Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Robertson & Falk, San Francisco, California. 1. Michael McGinnis, director of the United States Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, predicts by the year 2000, most people will be getting genetic health profiles. McAuliffe, Predicting Diseases, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, May 25, 1987, at 64-65. At least one insurance industry representative believes genetic testing probably will become standard medical practice within a decade and may render obsolete traditional underwriting parameters such as cholesterol, coronary risk profiles, and family histories. Pokorski, The Genetic Testing Debate: New Technologies Present New Challenges in Risk Selection, 20 J. INS. MED. 57, 57 (1988). In 1989, Congress initiated the Human Genome Initiative and allo- cated approximately $100 million annually to map and sequence human genes. Annas, Mapping the Human Genome and the Meaning of Monster Mythology, 39 EMORY L.J. 629, 643 (1990).