Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease and its impact on insurance purchasing behavior.
New genetic tests for adult-onset diseases raise concerns about possible adverse selection in insurance markets. To test for this behavior, we followed 148 cognitively normal people participating in a randomized clinical trial of genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease for one year after risk assessment and Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype disclosure. Although no significant differences were found in health, life, or disability insurance purchases, those who tested positive were 5.76 times more likely to have altered their long-term care insurance than those who did not receive APOE genotype disclosure. If genetic testing for Alzheimer's risk assessment becomes common, it could trigger adverse selection in long-term care insurance.
Zick
Cathleen D
CD
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. zick@fcs.utah.edu
Mathews
Charles J
CJ
Roberts
J Scott
JS
Cook-Deegan
Robert
R
Pokorski
Robert J
RJ
Green
Robert C
RC
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007353:Insurance, Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
D001057:Apolipoproteins E