Campaign for greater insurance access for people with Huntington’s disease

Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has called on the UK Government to ensure that insurance companies provide greater access to affordable insurance for individuals with Huntington’s disease and similar genetic conditions.

The Scottish Huntington’s Association is the only charity in Scotland exclusively dedicated to supporting families impacted by Huntington’s disease and has long campaigned for those diagnosed with Huntington’s disease to be able to access insurance at an affordable rate.

Mr Newlands spoke in Monday night’s adjournment debate about the struggle that too many individuals face when trying to access basic insurance. He expressed his disappointment about how many people with Huntington’s are being priced out from being able to afford insurance, and about the length of time that it takes to complete a simple application.

According to a survey completed by Genetic Alliance UK, 65% of respondents have problems accessing insurance with half of the respondents stating that the process has meant that they have avoided applying for insurance in the past.

Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:

“For most of us, given the proliferation of price comparison websites, accessing insurance has never been easier. However, for individuals with Huntington’s disease, it’s an uphill struggle to even access insurance and if they do they will likely have to pay premiums at astronomical rates, pricing many of them from being able to secure insurance at all.

“In reality, this will prevent individuals from securing car insurance, stop them from going on holiday and from acquiring life insurance to prepare for the possible future financial impact of Huntington’s disease.

“From speaking with individuals affected, it’s clear that the insurance companies still lack the necessary understanding about the symptoms of Huntington’s disease. It’s important that the insurance industry is guided by medical evidence and provide affordable insurance to those with complex neurological conditions like Huntington’s.

“Individuals with Huntington’s disease experience great challenges in life, but securing affordable insurance should not be another burden to overcome. The action required to tackle this unfairness is long overdue in creating an insurance system which works for everyone.”

John Eden, Chief Executive of Scottish Huntington Association, said:

“It is time we questioned if people with genetic conditions are being treated fairly by insurance companies. In the UK there is no legislation to protect people, leaving the insurance industry to self-regulate on this issue. The negative experience of people with Huntington’s Disease in relation to insurance serves as a warning that we risk creating a ‘genetic underclass’, which as our ability to test for more conditions improves; we run the risk of disadvantaging many more people.”