נאום כתוב - לחייב מועמדים לביטוח למסור תוצאות של בדיקות DNA

By Daniel Yacovi (economist at an insurance company) written and presented in the framework Public speaking course

good evening,

I was asked to raise the issue of the insurance companies' right to require tests from insureds as a prerequisite for life and health insurance. This issue of revealing comprehensive information about the insured is a controversial issue and is related to the issue of "individual modesty and medical confidentiality".

Opponents claim that such a database is another step in exposing the privacy of the individual and in light of the fact that only recently the Israel Police passed legislation that would allow the identification of every citizen based on his facial features, and now business entities such as insurance companies demand additional "intimate" disclosure of the citizen and in this case the insured. If, God forbid, these databases are hacked or inappropriate use is made of them, they could be like a "burning barrel" against the members of the database.

There are arguments for and against and tonight I will present my position regarding the insurance company's legitimate right to such a demand.
Before I lay out my arguments I will briefly explain. What is a test? The test is a simple and non-invasive test and is actually a genetic fingerprint. the-DNA of every living being, is a complicated and unique creation just as a fingerprint distinguishes one person from another, so also in every cell that is formed in our body, there is an identical genetic code, if we want to identify a certain person or to distinguish him from another person, there is no simpler way than checking the-DNA,

First argument: disclosure of facts to the potential insured himself

Most of us do not routinely perform a test DNA but conventional blood tests, the mere billing by the insurance company will allow us the insured to know more about ourselves and act accordingly. through inspection DNA Factors can be identified infectious or Tumors Even when they exist in the body in a tiny amount. This method helps in diagnosis infectious diseases or tumors, as well as in determining presence Mutations in diseases different genetics. The very knowledge will be able to activate preventive medicine and thus reduce or eliminate the outbreak of diseases in their initial stages for both the potential patient and the environment.

The second argument: establishing a database for the benefit of the insurers and the insured

The establishment of a database will enable the rapid identification of donors with a similar genetic code in cases of demand for organ donation both as a result of serious illnesses, accidents, etc. The quick accessibility and the possibility of a medical solution will be in the interest of the insured but also in the interest of the insurance company by reducing the costs of alternative treatments and other payments. Unfortunately, the examples are many and more well-known in the field of bone marrow cancer where the public is called to the mornings to donate bone marrow in order to save people and precisely those people encounter a double problem: the difficulty of finding suitable organs when time is working against them. The existence of such a database could be of great help to the members of the database in particular and to Israeli society in general.

The third argument: correct pricing of the insurance cost for the benefit of the insurer and the insured

In order for the insurance company to be able to correctly price the insurance cost, it needs as much information as possible. Sometimes the information given is very partial, but the addition of the genetic test can give a very comprehensive picture. The insurance companies have many databases that can be used wisely and the emphasis is also for the benefit of the insured. And if the information is not complete, the pricing must take into account the risk premium for non-confirmations.

In light of the above, the information obtained from the genetic test will allow insurers to determine a correct and usually lower premium for the insured. On the other hand, pricing that is flawed and lower than necessary may cause losses that may collapse the insurers, and then the insured will remain without coverage and adequate insurance.
There are many examples in Israel and one of them is the Sena company that did not price its business correctly and went bankrupt, and as a result many policyholders were harmed, of course there are many more examples in Israel and the world.

In conclusion

Within the short time allotted to me, I presented the claim that the insurance companies have the right to demand tests DNA As a prerequisite for life and health insurance and for that I presented 3 arguments in support of this.

Thank you very much for listening