Adverse genetic test results will no longer be relevant in life insurance underwriting
From 8 October 2026, new legislation will prohibit Australian life insurers from using protected genetic information, including predictive genetic test results, when assessing applications for life insurance.
Under the new rules, Zurich will no longer request, use or rely on protected genetic information when making underwriting decisions. We will, however, continue to consider other relevant medical information, including diagnosed medical conditions, signs and symptoms, and personal or family medical history.
For advisers, this provides greater certainty for your clients considering genetic testing, as predictive genetic test results will no longer affect their eligibility for, or access to, life insurance cover.
Your clients should continue to disclose all relevant medical information required as part of the application process, however you are not required to provide protected genetic test results under the new legislation.
When helping clients complete a Zurich application, you should not ask for or provide:
- Whether the life insured, or any genetic relative, has undergone genetic testing
- Whether they intend to undergo genetic testing or have been advised to do so
- Any results of genetic tests
For further information, you can:
- Read our Adviser FAQ’s.
- Contact Zurich Underwriting or your Business Development Manager.
Adviser FAQs
Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance September 2026
From 8 October 2026, new legislation prevents life insurers from asking for or using adverse genetic test results when making decisions about life insurance applications, pricing, policy terms, continuing cover, or policy changes.
Life insurers can still consider other relevant health information, including diagnosed medical conditions, symptoms, and family medical history.
Genetic testing can help people better understand and manage their health risks. The changes aim to ensure concerns about obtaining life insurance do not discourage individuals from having genetic testing that could help inform healthcare decisions.
The new legislation provides greater certainty for clients considering genetic testing.
When discussing protection needs with clients:
- Reassure clients that adverse genetic test results generally cannot be used by life insurers.
- Continue to ensure clients fully disclose all relevant medical conditions and health information requested during the application process.
- Encourage clients to seek appropriate medical advice regarding genetic testing without concerns about adverse life insurance outcomes influencing healthcare decisions.
Yes.
Clients must continue to disclose all relevant health information requested during the application process, including diagnosed medical conditions (see 10 below) and medical history.
However, clients generally no longer need to disclose protected genetic information.
The legislation applies to:
- New life insurance policies entered into on or after 8 October 2026
- Existing policies that are varied on or after 8 October 2026
- Policies established before this date are not automatically reassessed under the new legislation.
Protected genetic information includes:
- Genetic testing status
Whether an individual:- Has undergone genetic testing
- Intends to undergo genetic testing
- Has been advised to undergo genetic testing
- Genetic test results
Information relating to:- Genetic test results
- Genetic variants
- Genetic predispositions
- Predictive genetic findings
- Family genetic testing information
Whether a genetic relative:- Has undergone genetic testing
- Intends to undergo testing
- Has been advised to undergo testing
- Research participation
Information arising from participation in health or medical research involving genetic testing.
Note: ‘Protected genetic information’ is defined in legislation and is subject to regulations that can prescribe information relating to specified conditions to be protected genetic information.
Yes.
In certain circumstances, a client can choose to voluntarily provide genetic test results where doing so may be favourable to their application.
For this to occur:
- The information must be provided voluntarily
- Zurich must not have requested the information
- The client must provide written consent
- The information must not disadvantage the client
Further information about this process is available from the Zurich Underwriting team.
Yes.
Life insurers can still ask about a client's family medical history, including conditions that may have a genetic component.
Clients may still be asked about relevant health conditions affecting biological parents and siblings as part of the underwriting process.
Soliciting genetic information includes:
- Requesting it
- Encouraging disclosure
- Inducing provision of it
- Incentivising disclosure
Under the legislation, life insurers cannot solicit protected genetic information.
The legislation only relates to protected genetic information.
If a client has a diagnosed medical condition based on manifested signs or symptoms, that condition must still be disclosed where required by the application questions, regardless of whether the diagnosis followed genetic testing.
Yes. Many advisers use either Zurich's white-label pre-assessment form or their own adviser branded pre-assessment documents.
To ensure compliance with the new genetic testing protections, you should review and update any pre-assessment forms you use and remove questions that ask about:
- Whether a client has undertaken genetic testing
- Whether a client intends to undertake genetic testing
- Genetic test results or genetic predispositions
- Other protected genetic information
Alternatively, you can download and use Zurich's updated white-label pre-assessment form, which has already been amended to reflect the new requirements.
For more information about the genetic testing protections and what they may mean for your clients, please contact Zurich Underwriting or your Business Development Manager.