Genetic testing rules are changing
From 8 October 2026, life insurers in Australia will no longer be able to ask for, or use, genetic test results when assessing new life insurance applications, unless an exception applies.
Here’s what changed and what it means for your clients.
What’s changed
TAL will not ask for genetic test results or use any provided results in underwriting for new applications.
Why this matters
Genetic testing can help people make earlier, better-informed health decisions. It can support diagnosis, treatment and monitoring for conditions including some cancers and inherited health risks.
The new rules are designed to give clients more confidence to use genetic testing where it may help their health, without worrying that results may affect their access to life insurance.
For advisers and risk specialists, this is a practical change to the application process. Our application will no longer include a question asking whether your client would like to tell us about a genetic test result.
Instead, there will be a clear instruction explaining that life insurers cannot ask for or use genetic test results when assessing an application. Clients should answer based on their diagnosis if signs or symptoms of a disease have manifested, and not include genetic test results.
When a client decides to share a result
TAL cannot solicit protected genetic information to be used in underwriting however a client might decide to volunteer a genetic test result if it is favourable to their application. For example, a result may show they have not inherited a gene variant linked to a family health condition.
If your client chooses to do this, we may be able to use the result to reduce the impact of family history in the underwriting assessment. However, in order to comply with the law, we will need to first follow the appropriate process to obtain written consent from the client, before we can use that information.
Need a hand?
The Council of Australian Life Insurers is preparing a consumer fact sheet for use when the legislation starts. Our pre-assessment service also remains available if you have questions about specific client circumstances. You can contact the team on 1800 226 469.
You can also reach out to your local underwriting team below for more complex pre-assessments: