Insurance Underwriting Workflow for Non-Discriminatory Genetic Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current insurance underwriting processes do not incorporate genetic information, leading to individuals avoiding genetic testing due to fear of discrimination, which could hinder early detection and treatment of genetic predispositions, such as AATD, thereby affecting their quality of life and life expectancy.
Innovation Solution
A system for insurance underwriting that incentivizes individuals to seek genetic testing by providing access to genetic information and testing, ensuring it is used to improve health outcomes without discrimination, and offering post-policy issuance actions to inform and provide genetic testing to insureds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If genetic information is incorporated into insurance underwriting processes, then insurance companies can better assess risk and make informed underwriting decisions, but individuals may face discrimination and be denied coverage or charged higher premiums
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts genetic information from the underwriting decision-making process. While genetic data is collected and stored, it is deliberately excluded from influencing underwriting decisions, coverage eligibility, or premium pricing. This separation allows the insurance company to maintain accurate risk assessment capabilities through other means while preventing genetic discrimination against individuals.
2Loss of information
If individuals are discouraged from genetic testing due to fear of discrimination, then genetic privacy is protected, but early detection and treatment of genetic predispositions is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the insurance process into distinct phases: a pre-underwriting phase where genetic information is collected and stored securely, and a underwriting decision phase where genetic information is explicitly excluded from consideration. This segmentation allows individuals to obtain genetic testing for personal health benefits without the results affecting their insurance coverage, thus protecting genetic privacy while enabling early disease detection.
3Ease of operation
If genetic testing is made available without restrictions, then individuals can obtain knowledge of their genetic predispositions and take preventive actions, but insurance companies may misuse the information for discriminatory purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure intermediary system that acts as a mediator between individuals seeking genetic testing and insurance companies. The system allows individuals to easily access genetic testing and store results in a protected database. When underwriting decisions are made, the system provides only non-genetic risk factors to insurers, preventing misuse of genetic information while maintaining ease of access to testing for individuals.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for insurance underwriting and post policy issuance action comprising obtaining personal, medical, and genetic information for an applicant and determining the applicant's eligibility for an insurance policy is provided. The applicant may additionally be provided with information regarding genetic testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency or with information regarding testing of circulating AAT levels. Furthermore, alpha-1 antitrypsin testing may be ordered for the applicant as part of the insurance underwriting process or for the insured following policy acceptance or issuance.