The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced that it will be extending its moratorium on genetic test results until 2014.
The moratorium allows consumers to take out substantial amounts of insurance, without being required to disclose adverse results from predictive genetic tests and was established in 2001. It covers policies of up to £500,000 for life insurance, £300,000 for critical illness cover and £30,000 a year for income protection insurance . The ABI has estimated that only about 3 per cent of policies are not covered by the moratorium.
Stephen Haddrill, director general of the ABI, comments: "The moratorium on the use of predictive genetic test results works well for consumers. It means people can insure themselves and their families, even if they have had an adverse result from a predictive genetic test. The moratorium has proved effective since its introduction in 2001 and can now continue."
The next moratorium review will take place in 2011.




