PROJECT B: THE THIRD PARTY PROJECT

The third party areas investigated were, employment and insurance.

INSURERS

Aim: to explore and describe the policies and practices of insurance companies in Australia regarding the use of genetic risk as a factor for individual risk assessment for the purposes of insurance underwriting in relation to life, disability and other related forms of insurance.

Method:

• guidelines, policies and other documentation on the use of genetic information in insurance underwriting were collected from the peak representative bodies in the insurance sector as well as from individual insurers;
• data was collected over several years on the life insurance industry's use of genetic information for the purposes of underwriting assessment. The Australian Institute of Actuaries collect, hold and analyse the data on behalf of the life insurance industry's peak body, the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA). IFSA approved access to the raw data from these surveys (in anonymised form) for analysis by our research team .
• a national survey of Australian insurers from the general insurance sector was conducted with follow up interviews of selected insurers.
  

INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS

Aim: to explore and describe the resources and practices of brokers regarding the use of genetic risk in insurance applications.

Method: a national survey of agents and brokers was conducted, with follow up interviews of selected agents and brokers.

EMPLOYERS

Aim: to explore and describe the policies and practices of Australian employers regarding the use of genetic risk as a factor in making employment related decisions and to examine attitudes and perspectives concerning the use of genetic information in the workplace.

Method: a national survey of employers was conducted, with follow up interviews of selected employers.

INTERESTED IN THE THIRD PARTY PROJECT?

If you would like to make contact with the researchers who undertook the Third Party Project, please contact either;

Professor Margaret Otlowski
Faculty of Law
Private Bag 89
University of Tasmania
Hobart. TAS. 7001.
Margaret.Otlowski@utas.edu.au
03 6226 7569

Dr Mark Stranger
Centre for Law and Genetics
Private Bag 89
University of Tasmania
Hobart. TAS. 7001.
Mark.Stranger@utas.edu.au
03 6226 2773

• July 2003
• May 2005