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The Life Insurance Market
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It’s been quite a number of years since partnerships based on a pure back-end commission share were the norm in our world, over the years they’ve nearly all been replaced by up-front payment per lead arrangements.
We accepted this change, which placed all the risk very firmly in our court, the commercial reality being that if we didn’t then someone else surely would.
Some payment per lead partnerships we try turn out to be great, others end up right at the other end of the scale and are promptly turned off.
It now seems, however, that the appetite for commission deals maybe increasing once more; with partners keen to better align the goals of their business with ours.
Sean Marsh
Marketing Director
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One third of people with a new mortgage are not taking out a life insurance product relating to it, according to a new report.
Defaqto indicate that of the 925,000 new mortgage advances last year, fewer than 640,000 (636,973) took out a policy which could help pay for it, should the mortgage holder not be able to.
Defaqto's Insight Analyst for Protection, Ben Heffer, remarks that "the figures suggest that there are many people taking on debt whose loved ones would have no means of paying it off for them if the worst happened."
He adds that with unemployment still a big concern, there is also a lack of people taking on income protection policies too.
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Men in Wales should seriously consider getting critical illness cover after it emerged that their cancer rate is the highest in the UK.
New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that the prostate cancer in Wales is 17 per cent higher than the UK average, but the mortality rate is one per cent lower.
This suggests that more men are living with the disease, which heightens the need for them to consider critical illness insurance.
The stats for all cancers show similar results – the diagnosis rate is much higher than average, but the death rate is similar to the national one.
Shelagh Reynolds from the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit (WCISU) puts the figures down to "earlier diagnosis".
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Younger people in Northern Ireland should consider getting sickness insurance after a new study found that skin cancer cases have trebled in the last 25 years.
The Public Health Agency noted that the main risk is caused by overexposure to UV radiation, be it in the sun or spending too much time on a sun bed.
Dr Eddie Rooney believes that people should be on the lookout for symptoms, which can include burnt skin, itchiness, irritation in the eyes and a skin rash.
People with these symptoms may want to consider sickness insurance as, according to Dr Rooney, they could end up with a malignant melanoma, cataracts or other more serious eye conditions.
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Whilst most people are aware of the dangers of smoking, researchers have discovered another way that it can increase your chances of needing to claim on your critical illness cover.
A study conducted at Taipei Medical University has found that nicotine in cigarettes has been linked to the development of breast cancer.
However, as this has been linked to nicotine, rather than the usual carcinogens, it raises questions over the use of nicotine gums and patches which are used to wean people off cigarettes.
The findings were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and may encourage more smokers to look at their level of critical illness cover.
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In the future, people diagnosed with AIDS may not need to claim on their sickness insurance, following new drug trials.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Centre have been testing the effectiveness of two cancer drugs in fighting AIDS and have come up with encouraging results.
The drugs were used on mice and resulted in lethal mutagenesis – that is, the AIDS-causing HIV virus mutated itself to death.
With no lethal side effects noted, it is now hoped that the drugs work in a similar way for humans as well, which could mean that sometime in the future, people may not need to claim on their sickness insurance for the disease.
However, this would be many years into the future, so for the time being at least, sickness insurance is still advisable.
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AXA's managing director of protection has lashed out at the Association of British Insurers' (ABI) plan to introduce scripts for the sale of critical illness cover.
Graham Harvey told CityWire.co.uk that having one set script to read off would "deny advisers the chance to tailor the products on offer to their clients’ exact needs."
The ABI is considering using scripts for critical illness cover sales, after research by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) discovered that many policy features were not being explained correctly when consultations take place over the phone.
Mr Harvey points out that it is these features which make the critical illness cover sector competitive – firms are constantly tweaking their product to make it work better for customers.
He queries how a set script could reflect these necessary alterations and would prefer advisers to be armed with tips of how to deal with common customer complaints.
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The parents of children who attend schools which ban suntan cream may want to consider critical illness cover, due to an increased skin cancer risk.
Some schools have banned sun block due to worries over allergic children coming into contact with it, and the fear of getting it in their eyes.
Now though, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) are advising schools to encourage parents to give suntan lotion to their children to protect them in hot weather.
They note that people who get sunburnt at a young age have a higher risk of getting skin cancer, so protection is a must.
Fortunately, critical illness cover for younger people generally has lower premiums, as they will be paying into the policy for longer.
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Electrocuting potatoes can help make them fight cancer when consumed, which can mean that people don’t need to claim on their sickness insurance as early as they otherwise might.
This vegetable treatment has been discovered by researchers at Obihiro University in northern Japan, who found that subjecting the potatoes to high-frequency sound waves can also have a similar effect.
The electrocution and sound-blasts help increase the levels of antioxidants in the potatoes, which are known to combat heart disease and cancer when eaten by humans.
However, it is unknown when – or even if – these techniques will be introduced into potatoes that consumers can buy, so people who have a family history of cancer or heart disease may still want to consider sickness insurance.
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Drivers and pedestrians alike may want to consider getting an income protection policy after it emerged that three-quarters of motorists drive whilst tired.
This increases the risk of them crashing into innocent road users and possibly causing them injuries which require them to take a substantial time off work.
The figures from insurer Direct Line show a huge increase on six years ago, when less than half (46 per cent) admitted to getting behind the wheel whilst drowsy.
Estimates show that one in five deaths on trunk roads is due to a driver falling asleep behind the wheel, although this number could be higher as it is difficult to ascertain whether this definitely caused the crash.
The survey also reveals that one in eleven (9 per cent) drivers admits to driving tired as often as once a week, which may prompt more people to get income insurance to protect themselves financially if they are hit by a tired driver.
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A treatment for cervical cancer has saved thousands of women’s lives and in turn meant that they didn’t need to claim on their critical illness cover as early as they may have done in the past.
This comes after a study found that the use of cisplatin alongside radiotherapy reduced the likelihood of death by a quarter (23 per cent), compared to radiotherapy alone.
The drug was known to improve survival chances, but this study by researchers at the University of Leicester is the first time it has been proven how effective it can be in the long-term.
However, as with other treatments for the disease, the use of cisplatin alongside radiotherapy is not a guaranteed cure, so women at risk of cervical cancer should still consider critical illness cover.
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Eating garlic won't only ward off vampires, but it can also help you stall having to claim on your sickness insurance.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that just 12 weeks of treatment with garlic tablets could lead to a "significant" cut in blood pressure, slashing the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
However, they are keen to add that garlic should only be used to supplement other treatments and not replace them.
Dr Karin Ried [sic] remarks that their test subjects saw blood pressure readings drop by 10mmHg and notes that "this reduction is clinically significant, as a drop in systolic blood pressure by 5mmHg reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by eight to twenty per cent."
Although it can lower the risk, people with a history of high blood pressure may still want to consider sickness insurance for extra peace of mind.
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People who play rugby should consider getting critical illness cover, as new research provides a strong link between repeated blows to the head and dementia.
Researchers from the University of Richmond in New York looked at the autopsies of a dozen sportsmen who had died after suffering from the illness.
All the subjects were found to have a disease called CTE, which can cause dementia to set in following years of repeated concussions.
Lead author Dr Ann McKee noted that "this is the first pathological evidence that repetitive head trauma experienced in collision sports might be associated with the development of a motor neuron disease."
Soldiers may also need to consider critical illness cover after returning from active duty, as they could suffer concussions from explosions and blows to the head.
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Workers who go out to soak up the rays at lunchtime may need to get critical illness cover as they could be increasing their risk of getting skin cancer.
A new survey from Tesco Bank shows that only one in ten apply sunscreen before heading outside for lunch, whilst three or four lunchtimes a week are spent outdoors when the weather is fine.
One in six people admit to getting sunburnt during these midday sun sessions, which raises the chances of getting skin cancer. This may encourage more people to think about getting critical illness cover in case they succumb to the illness.
Jeremy Sutton from Tesco remarks that "it only takes one serious burn to potentially have lasting consequences when it comes to your skin."
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People who decided to take out income protection cover with Bupa will be able to get a free health assessment from the provider.
The check-up will also be offered to the person who introduced the new policy-holder to the firm and will involve looking at body mass index, body fat ratio, blood pressure and cholesterol.
There will also be tests which look into blood sugar levels and the healthiness of the heart. Usually, this kind of assessment costs close to £150 (£149).
Bupa's Steve Casey thinks that the check-up can help people become healthier, remarking that "over three-quarters (78 per cent) of people who have had a Bupa Health Assessment say that they were prompted to make positive changes to their lifestyle."
He adds that income protection cover is particularly important at a time when planning for the future is at the front of people's minds.
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Eating chocolate can help lower the risk of heart failure, which in turn means that people with sickness insurance won’t need to claim on their policy quite so soon.
Research from the Northwestern University in Chicago assessed more than 30,000 (31,823) women over the past nine years and found that eating three or four squares of plain chocolate each week can reduce the chances of developing the condition by up to a third (32 per cent).
Professor Linda van Horn's team discovered that flavonoid compounds in chocolate were found to lower blood pressure and ward off the threat of heart disease, but only if the chocolate has 30 per cent or more of cocoa solids.
Whilst this could stave off the need to claim on your sickness insurance, Professor van Horn warns that "this is not an 'eat all you want' message".
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Employees should consider getting income protection insurance to take away the fear of talking to their boss about their problems.
This comes after a study by Aviva shows that just 4 per cent of workers would approach their manager if they had a health concern or personal issue.
By comparison, the Health of the Workplace survey shows that six in ten people would unburden themselves to their partner, whilst a third would tell their doctor.
A fifth (21 per cent) of people surveyed admitted that they didn't tell their employer in case their issue affected their work prospects, so getting income protection cover would take away a lot of the fear, as it can cover bills for people who need to take time off work due to problems.
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More Scottish people should think about getting income protection cover, after new job figures suggests the employment market has gone into reverse.
Economic consultancy firm Markit found that permanent jobs declined in July, while the growth in temporary job number slowed.
As a result those who have had to give up jobs due to illness or injury may find it harder to get back into employment, so income protection cover could help them pay for bills and other essentials.
Donald MacRae from the Bank of Scotland points to "previously inactive workers return[ing] to the jobs market again during July, resulting in the number of candidates seeking employment rising at marked rates."
He adds that overall, last month was "challenging" for the Scottish employment market.
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Government advisers have suggested that vitamin D be added to milk in order to make Britain healthier and stave off the need to claim on sickness insurance.
The vitamin, which is usually available from the sun, helps to strengthen bones whilst also decreasing the chances of getting heart disease and cancer.
However, due to the lack of sun in this country, many people lack the vitamin. In England, by the end of winter half the population is running low on vitamin D; in Scotland, this figure is two-thirds.
There are fears that adding the vitamin to milk will take away the consumer's right to choose, so there are no guarantees that the practice will take place. If this is indeed the case, the need for sickness insurance becomes more acute.
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New figures for plus-size clothes show that Britain has an obesity problem which may encourage more people to get sickness insurance.
Designer Marc Jacobs highlighted the stats from Mintel which show that there are now more than 6 million (6.2 million) women in the UK who wear size 18 or above.
In just the last five years, the size of the plus-size market has increased by almost half (45 per cent), compared to an overall womenswear market growth of 15 per cent. The women's plus-size market is now worth close to £4bn (£3.8bn).
Rising obesity levels could also mean a rise in weight-related illnesses, such as diabetes, so more people should get sickness insurance to mitigate against it happening.
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Fast food fans should still consider critical illness insurance even if burger chains start offering statins amongst the condiments.
According to researchers at Imperial College London, a dose of the drug "can reduce your [heart attack] risk to more or less the same degree as a fast food meal increases it."
However, Dr Darrel Francis, who led the study, remarks that statins won't cut out all the unhealthy effects of fast food and it’s better to avoid fatty food altogether.
Whilst statins are generally safe, they could increase the risk of muscle weakness and possible kidney or liver problems, according to Professor Steve Field of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
So even if the possible 'cure' to fast food could prove harmful, it's still a good idea to get critical illness insurance.
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Colder weather can make people more vulnerable to heart attacks, meaning people should consider critical illness insurance in case we have another winter like the last one.
According to a new report – Short-term Effects of Temperature on Risk of Myocardial Infarction in England and Wales – a drop of one degree Celsius increases the risk of a heart attack by 2 per cent over the next 28 days.
With there being 146,000 heart attacks each year in the UK, this could mean another 200 heart attacks across the country.
The study indicates that part of the reason for the rise might not be directly due to the cold, but rather from treatment taking longer to arrive due to icy roads and other cold-weather situations.
With this in mind, critical illness insurance may be a wise idea, particularly for those who live in hard-to-reach locations.
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Britons are less likely to need to call on their critical illness cover quite so soon now, having seen a fall in breast cancer deaths.
The British Medical Journal reports that the number has fallen by 35 per cent in England and Wales, 30 per cent in Scotland and 29 per cent in Northern Ireland.
However, the figures used in the study show that Britain still sees more breast cancer deaths than many other European countries, including Romania and Bulgaria.
Researchers noted that factors such as drinking, obesity and the age at which a woman has children all influence the likelihood of breast cancer developing.
As a result of Britain still experiencing many breast cancer sufferers, it may be worth considering critical illness cover or life insurance.
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Experts have warned of a new superbug, which may encourage more people to consider getting critical illness insurance.
They indicate that the bacteria which cause the NDM-1 virus appear to have travelled back from India and Pakistan with NHS patients and are resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics.
As a result of this, scientists fear that the virus could go global, even though at present there have only been 50 cases identified.
People may strongly consider getting critical illness cover in case the NDM-1 bug becomes as widespread as MRSA, which has killed thousands and infected even greater numbers.
A Department of Health spokeswoman noted that they were working with the Health Protection Agency to help slow the spread of the disease.
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Friends Provident (FP) has earned a five-star rating from Defaqto across its entire range of individual income protection products.
The protection provider puts the rating down to the enhancements it has made to its selection of products.
These involve improving the guaranteed increase option on all income protection, which allows customers to increase their benefit without the need for any extra medical tests.
Ben Heffer from Defaqto explains that “Friends Provident has been five-star rated for its individual income protection as its product reflects one of the best quality products in the market”.
The guaranteed increase option now includes events such as marriage, civil partnership, birth of a child, mortgage increase and other factors.
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Payouts on children's critical illness cover claims are widespread, but the product itself has plenty of room for improvement, according to an expert.
Scottish Provident's Jennifer Gilchrist indicates that the firm only makes more payouts for heart attacks, strokes, cancer and MS, but it is hard to build the critical illness cover product for children as it relies on parents considering the health of their offspring.
She believes that "maybe when protection cover is viewed as a necessity, rather than nice to have, we will see the [£2.4tn] protection gap contracting," although she does point to how useful the product is at present.
Critical illness cover for children can allow parents to take time off work to look after them, pay for some private treatments which aren’t available on the NHS or provide a break for the whole family.
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Bupa have extended the remit of its Best Doctors service to provide greater benefits for its income protection and critical illness cover policy holders.
Those who previously would have had to make a claim for treatment prior to seeking additional advice using the Best Doctors service can now use it even in the absence of a claim.
Bupa’s Steve Casey remarks that "as the first provider to introduce the concept to the market in 2001, we are delighted to extend the service to further meet the needs of our customers."
People with income protection or critical illness cover from the firm will now be covered for critical, chronic or degenerative conditions, or those which "substantially" affect their lives.
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Breast cancer rates are more than four times higher in the UK compared to Eastern Africa, meaning critical illness cover should be a serious consideration.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), almost 90 (87.9) out of every 100,000 British women were diagnosed in 2008, compared to less than 20 (19.3) per 100,000 in East Africa.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) point out that part of the reason for the difference is British doctors being better at diagnosing the illness, but they also note that lifestyle plays its part too.
Research has shown that around four in 10 cases of breast cancer in British women could be avoided if they kept to a healthy weight, drank less alcohol and were more active.
These factors mean that they're more likely to need critical illness cover to help them cope with the disease.
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Sickness insurance is cheaper if you start paying for it at an early age, but figures show that many Britons increase their need for it from a young age too by over-drinking.
Department of Health statistics reveal that one in five youngsters drink more than 600 units of alcohol in a year. This high level of drinking sees 200 under-18s admitted to hospital each week with drink-related injuries.
The long-term damage can be even more severe though, heightening the need for sickness insurance to help cover people if illness causes them to lose out on earnings.
The liver is one of the most susceptible organs to alcohol-related damage, together with the heart, brain and pancreas. It is also associated with various cancers and the stunting of physical and emotional development.
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Bright Grey paid out 95 per cent of critical illness insurance claims over the first six months of the year, with the average windfall totalling nearly £90,000.
According to analysis by LifeSearch, only 1.7 per cent of critical illness insurance claims were declined for non-disclosure whilst 3 per cent didn’t meet the definition.
Bright Grey's percentage is much higher than the national average of 90.5 per cent, a fact that isn't lost on the life insurance firm's proposition director, Roger Edwards.
He remarked that "having such a high claims paid figure helps generate a massive confidence in Bright Grey with advisers and their clients."
Matt Morris, senior policy adviser here at LifeSearch comments that the figures show that the work of the Association of British Insurers "has helped the protection industry improve claim rates significantly."
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People who are worried about being diagnosed with cancer should still consider critical illness cover, despite an article in a women's magazine.
A piece in My Weekly claimed it had ten pieces of advice which could "cancer-proof your life", something that has been refuted by a leading cancer charity.
Richard Evans commented in his World Cancer Research Fund's (WCRF) blog that "articles like this can actually add to the confusion" of dealing with the prospect of cancer.
The article itself lists a number of foods to avoid or consume more of, and whilst it is generally good diet advice, it will not prevent people from needing to consider critical illness cover.
My Weekly's editor Sally Hampton said there was "no harm" in the advice given in the article, but according to Mr Evans, the magazine may run another piece that looks at the charity’s advice.
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Dear Mark
You have every reason and opportunity to put the RDR (retails Distribution Review) back under review as it has become public knowledge that the FSA (Financial Services Authority) board decided to carry on with it despite real doubts as to its overall worth. This decision would be astounding, were it not made by the same team that failed to regulate the banking industry responsibly. In the end it seems the FSA executives felt their reputations depended on it and that to resile from such an expensively created position was simply career suicide.
You have already set out, thank goodness, to fix the broken regulatory system Labour created when they built their super regulator. Having been regulated since 1987, I can testify that the FSA is the most spendthrift and least able master we have seen since 1987, and while their failures in the macroeconomic sphere will trouble you most, please spare a moment’s decision making for the retail consumer of financial advice. While a simplified product range and the CFEB might well help in the long term, people will still need advice if they are to make proper personal financial provision, as the economy so badly needs all to start doing.
And if they are to take advice, then every release of FOS (Financial Ombudsman Service) statistics shows the IFA’s track record in providing this fairly to be simply miles better than that of the banks or other big corporate alternatives. The Barclays protesters are the latest to demonstrate the folly of building a system that encourages large corporations to provide financial advice to ordinary people. The UK consumer is far, far better off with someone advising them who seeks primarily to profit by maintaining the client adviser relationship, rather than using it to achieve promotion in his or her organisation. And for this proven model to continue to exist at scale in the mass market a thriving IFA sector is a requirement.
The single biggest threat to any IFA’s future, and particularly those seeking to serve the wider market, is the RDR. The FSA accepts it will cut numbers by 20%, but it is certain to cause a far greater cull. It will accelerate the already consistent decline in consumer access to decent advice.
While any industry as diverse as UK retail financial services is easy to divide and rule, the many voices who have tried and failed to stop or prune this regulatory juggernaut include all the leaders of major IFA firms or networks – the very distributors of financial advice that consumers are pretty much starved of. Such leaders were listened to but ignored by a Blairite FSA team determined to achieve the grand projet rather than grub around with individual issues. Clearly with such a multifaceted and all embracing reform there are many elements worth saving, but the overall focus on creating theoretical perfection no matter the cost is needlessly ruinous and will most certainly leave consumers in the hands of the major corporates, whose record of treating their customers fairly is so much worse than that of the IFA, according to the FOS.
Happily, your government has no political capital to lose in requiring the new CPMA to think the RDR through again, so please take this last chance to place a Conservative stamp on the future of financial advice. And may I add a last caution? The people at CPMA you would charge with the review of the RDR are mostly the same ones who decided to press on regardless last time. Watch them closely!
Good Luck.
Tom Baigrie
LifeSearch Managing Director
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The story that, as much as any other, has dominated the headlines since the election has been the huge public debt in the UK and the need to slash it drastically. Inevitably the welfare state is one of the key areas that are earmarked for ‘reform’ (a friendly word for spending cuts). This presents Protection with a great opportunity to explain to consumers, and to IFAs, why Income Protection (IP) is such an important product.
No matter how well an adviser explains the benefits of IP there is one stumbling block that has so far proved to be an enormous barrier in the consumer’s mind – the welfare state. Most consumers, and even some IFAs incredibly, believe the welfare state will protect and provide for them if they are too sick to work. This is a potentially disastrous misunderstanding.
The welfare state, and in particular the benefits system, is meant only as a basic safety net, to stop people dropping into the margins of society and becoming destitute. It is not there to prop up an individual’s lifestyle when they fall on hard times. Those who find they can no longer work due to illness or disability, and who have only the welfare system to fall back on, will find that their lifestyle costs and debts, such as a mortgage, more than likely won’t be met.
This shortfall in what people believe the state can provide for them, and what it actually will provide, can only widen in the coming months and years as the new administration desperately seeks to slash the deficit by curbing public spending. The idea of a cradle to grave system of support has been with most of us since birth, but that system can no longer offer people the support they really need.
Remember, as Protection Review’s Andy Couchman wisely pointed out recently, that while claims rates for the product most needed as a form of private provision, namely Income Protection, generally hovers around the very respectable 90% mark, the payment rate for Incapacity Benefit is actually closer to 60% (even less for the new Employment and Support Allowance). State benefits are not thought of in terms of claims rates but, if they were, it would show that their payout rates are little better than PPI! (Payment Protection Insurance)
So these tough times actually present a great opportunity for protection to reaffirm why what we do is so important and to build a vital role for ourselves and for consumers as state provision is rolled back. The Income Protection Task Force has guided the industry to a greater focus on IP over the past few years, but we all have a duty to do our individual bit too and promote this product to consumers, IFAs and the media in our day to day activites. If and when the new government listens we may see a new dawn for the product which is becoming more relevant than ever. The tough times are going to get tougher and the state is unable to meet the needs of the public.
So promoting IP is not just about explaining the qualities of the product, it’s about explaining, in a sober and accurate way, without hyperbole, the realities of what consumer can and cannot expect for the State. When we start to get this message through to consumers maybe the new administration will pay heed to the need for private financial protection. I hope the industry has the appetite for this challenge.
Matt Morris, LifeSearch
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Posted by @
10:48 AM, August 12
I completely agree, and we at L&G will be seeking to get the message through to Government too that there is advantage for them in helping us develop joint solutions for welfare reform. Social risk is in many respects already a joint initiative between our industry and government, but more is needed to gain that full recognition.
Keep it up!
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We all know that keeping your heart fit helps your body to stay healthy and ward off needing to claim on your sickness insurance, but it can also keep you mentally sharp too.
This finding comes from the Boston University, where a research team has discovered that people with sluggish hearts, which pumped out less blood, have 'older' brains than those with healthier hearts.
Lead researcher, Dr Angela Jefferson, remarks that "nearly a third of the entire sample has low cardiac index and that lower cardiac index is related to smaller brain volume is concerning and requires further study."
She added that whilst having a smaller brain didn't necessarily mean reduced brain function, it may be an early sign that something could go wrong.
If this is indeed the case, it may be worth getting sickness insurance as a precaution.
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Life insurance policies might not be cashed in quite so soon for people with cancer after a new gene breakthrough.
Researchers at Oxford University discovered that using drugs that block the POLQ gene could increase cancer survival rates. That came after they discovered that excessive POLQ activity dramatically increased the risk of cancer returning after treatment.
Professor Gillies McKenna, whose team conducted the research, remarked that "if drugs could be developed to block this gene, they would make tumours more responsive to treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy but not increase the side effects caused to healthy cells."
The study also notes that the gene appears to have a greater impact in women who have cancers that are not sensitive to oestrogen. They account for between a fifth and a quarter of the 45,700 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
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New guidelines have been released to cover DIY genetic tests which could help people decide over what course of action to take over critical illness cover or life insurance.
As we reported last month, there are a plethora of kits available over the internet, which can be used to analyse DNA to judge how likely a person is to develop conditions like heart disease, diabetes or cancer.
These tests concern the Human Genetics Commission (HGC), as they “can leave some falsely reassured or unduly worried”, so they have issued guidelines on the DIY kits.
The HGC wants to see counselling introduced, information given on how the process works and the possible outcomes of the tests to be made clear.
One outcome is that the person taking the test decides to take on a critical illness or life insurance policy.
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Young adults with higher-than-normal cholesterol should think about critical illness insurance after a new study showed that they could already be damaging their arteries.
Researchers at the University of California followed a group of 18- to 30-year olds for 20 years and discovered that higher cholesterol levels at those ages increased the risk of heart disease and stroke in later life.
Dr Mark Pletcher, who led the study, remarked that until now, cholesterol levels in younger adults weren't afforded too much concern, as "it's rare to have a heart attack" at that age.
The research team noted that the results didn’t mean that younger people necessarily needed treatment, but could certainly afford to make sure they exercise and watch what they eat.
For peace of mind, they may also want to consider critical illness insurance, which often has cheaper premiums for younger applicants.
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