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Life Health > Health Insurance

Genomics: upending the insurance world (for the better)

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Our understanding of human biology is increasing at a stunning rate. Credit for this goes in part to researchers in the fast-expanding field of genomics: a branch of molecular biology that explores the structure, function, evolution and mapping of genes.

The discipline’s advances hold huge implications for human health and the mammoth healthcare industry. In the insurance space, the science is also raising profound questions, including this one: How will the field’s discoveries impact the relationships between insurers and policyholders?

AALU conference star

That question came up at a much-anticipated presentation by Dr. J. Craig Venter at the 2016 AALU annual meeting in Washington, D.C., held May 1-3. Best known for being among the first to map the human genome using “shotgun sequencing” of human DNA, Venter heads up a non-profit genomic research institute named after him. He’s also founder and CEO of Human Longevity Inc. (HLI), which is using large-scale computing and machine learning to build a comprehensive archive of genetic and clinical data.

It’s a jaw-dropping database. In 2014, HLI sequenced 14 petabytes (14 million gigabytes) of genomes — complete sets of genes and genetic material in a cell or organism. The company anticipates boosting the database to more than 1 million records of genetic information by 2020. That’s big data writ large.

Not so long ago, this achievement could only be imagined. The cost of the U.S. government-funded Human Genome Project, the 13-year scientific research effort conducted in parallel with Venter’s private initiative at Celera Genomics to map the human genome, totaled nearly $3 billion at the project’s completion in 2003. Today, a human genome — some 22,000 genes composed of 6.2 billion DNA bases — can be sequenced for just $1,500 in 15 minutes.

The precipitous decline in gene sequencing time and cost is enabling major medical gains, notably in respect to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Among the field’s discoveries, Venter said, are some 8,000 “genome variants” that account for rare, genetically-based conditions, from acute types of leukemia to unusual brain disorders.

Of particular interest to researchers is the biology of illnesses that account for the lion’s share of deaths: cancer and heart disease. Venter said that HLI is now sequencing tumors to understand their functioning and how best to treat them.

The latter may take the form of: (1) a vaccine tailored to an individual’s tumor; or (2) the development of immune system T cells programmed to recognize and attack cancer cells. Such customized treatments could transform the drug industry.

The promise of major medical advances resulting from collaboration among genomics and drug researchers is evident in the April 2016 announcement by HLI and biopharmaceutical titan AstraZenica: a 10-year deal to sequence and analyze 500,000 DNA samples from AstraZenica clinical trials. Genomic insights gained from the partnering will be added to the HLI Knowledgebase and subsequently shared with AstraZenica, which will have access to the database.

Genetics-based drug treatments could be a godsend to millions of people who suffer from life-threatening and chronic medical conditions. Better still is the use of genomics to identify risk factors associated with these conditions, and using this information to prevent the onset of disease. Venter pointed to advances in medical technologies and therapies that, combined with genetics testing, could be used to thwart the development of cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease or strokes.

Back to the insurance question

This assumes, of course, that such conditions are preventable. An alternative scenario, the ability to predict the onset of incurable disease in still healthy individuals, could be used by insurers to deny them policies or to insure them on less favorable terms.

This may be the outcome for an unfortunate few, but only at a point in the future when the cost of gene sequencing declines to a nominal amount and can be justified as a normal part of a policy application. More likely near-term is the scenario envisioned by insurance executives joining Venter in a post-presentation panel discussion: using gene sequencing to assess risk and forecast health outcomes of applicants who are undergoing treatment for a disease.

For those with treatable conditions — cancer, diabetes, arrhythmia or the HIV virus — gene sequencing can aid not only in better tailoring treatment. The technology can also improve recommendations for lifestyle changes that might help make a medical condition manageable (if not curable). Armed with this information, product manufacturers may be willing to offer policies to applicants currently deemed uninsurable or an adverse risk.

They may also get creative with their products. They could, for instance, offer financial incentives to applicants to do a DNA sequencing test. These may take the form of riders offering privileged access to living benefits, such as cash values. More favorable contract terms could also be extended to applicants who do more extensive testing (e.g., sequencing a whole genome versus a more limited test.)

The possibilities are endless. This much seems certain: Genomics is helping to spur much-needed industry innovation. To the extent that forthcoming changes in products, underwriting and business practices expand the pool of the insurable — and help those with policies live longer and healthier lives — then they’re to be welcomed.

Read also these articles on the AALU 2016 annual meeting:

AALU panelists fear unintended consequences of DOL rule

FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver: Expect Trump to be the GOP nominee

AALU: Shifting from defense to offense on Capitol Hill


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