Health groups are calling for the federal government to prioritise legislation to ban life insurers from using genetic testing to raise costs, and deny cover to prospective clients.

Public Health and Genomics researcher from Monash University, Dr Jane Tiller told Simon Beaumont on Perth Today “When we offer people genetic testing that could save their life, sometimes they’d rather not have the test because they’re worried about consequences for future life insurance.”

“It really can save someone’s life to have this kind of genetic information, and if they’re choosing not to have it, it can cost a life,” Ms Tiller continued.

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