To: The Editor From: Matt Rann, head of underwriting and claims, Aegon UK I refer to various refe...
To: The Editor
From: Matt Rann, head of underwriting and claims, Aegon UK
I refer to various references in COVER May 2004 to the impending changes to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
There does appear to be some confusion with regard to HIV being specifically included within the Act from October 2004 and the position with regard to life and disability insurers.
While the changes to the Act are to be applauded, I believe that it is important to restate that the guidance for underwriters has not changed.
The Association of British Insurer's guide to the DDA, section 3.3, states that: "all underwriting decisions must be based on relevant information or data as stated in section 3.2."
This section states that decisions must be based on "actuarial or statistical data, medical research information and/or medical reports about the individual. Information can be used provided it is relevant, current and from a source on which it is reasonable for the underwriter to rely on."
While some insurers may decide to change their practices and products, this is not a change which is being forced upon them through the October update, but one that is driven by the commercial markets in which they operate.
