Payingtoomuch has warned that the Ebola Virus could adversely impact new life insurance policies if the virus became more easily transmitted.
Michael Ward, managing director of the comparison site, said key questions for the industry include whether new policies will drive a price increase or whether it will cover the virus.
He said: "For policies already in force, if a death occurs as a result of Ebola current life insurance would pay out in full. But for new life insurance policies, are prices about to rise and will they cover Ebola?
"What we need to be concerned about is if the virus begins to mutate so that transmission occurs more easily. Current thinking is that mutation is unlikely, but this could change."
Ward also said that he expected insurers to either apply an exclusion for Ebola deaths for new policies taken out or increase premiums.
He added: "I would expect insurers are already reviewing the position on a regular basis and expect them to react if circumstances change."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) currently estimates the fatality rate of Ebola at 50% of patients, there is no current cure however rehydration and symptomatic relief can improve survival, two potential vaccines are currently on trial.
The UK Government has announced that screening of passengers from Ebola affected countries will be screened for the virus, as concerns rise it could reach the UK.
The majority of countries so far affected by Ebola are in West Africa, with cases elsewhere being relatively isolated incidents, although an incident of person-to-person transmission has occurred in Spain.
Ward concluded: "Life insurance premiums are currently at historically low levels but with margins so small for insurers, any increase in mortality experience would likely lead to an immediate rate rise as it did with HIV/AIDS about a decade ago. But at the moment I think this is unlikely."
