Latest news with #cholesterol
CNA
12 hours ago
- Health
- CNA
How does genetic testing affect your insurance coverage? Here's what you should know
SINGAPORE: Singapore will launch a national health programme on Jun 30 targeting a hereditary cholesterol condition. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has described the programme as the country's first preventive care programme based on genetic testing. As Singapore expands its use of genetic testing in preventive healthcare, the question of insurance fairness looms large. Here's what you need to know about the moratorium that protects your data and your coverage. What is a genetic testing moratorium and why does Singapore have one? A genetic testing moratorium is an agreement that restricts how life insurers can use genetic test results when evaluating applications for insurance. It aims to prevent genetic discrimination, ensuring that individuals are not penalised for potential health risks identified through genetic screening. Countries that have such guidelines include Singapore, the United Kingdom and Canada. In Singapore, insurers cannot use predictive genetic test results - used to predict future risk of diseases - in assessing or deciding the outcome of insurance applications, unless certain criteria are satisfied. Genetic tests analyse one's DNA, RNA, chromosomes or specific genes to identify changes that may be linked to inherited conditions, disease risk and the likelihood of passing on conditions to one's children. In Singapore's case, a moratorium on genetic testing and insurance was introduced by the Health Ministry (MOH) and the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) in October 2021. In June 2025, the moratorium was expanded to include all predictive and diagnostic test results from the national familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) genetic testing programme Under the agreement, life insurers in Singapore are also not allowed to use genetic test results from biomedical research or direct-to-consumer genetic test results. This means individuals do not need to worry that participating in MOH's genetic testing initiative will affect their ability to get life insurance, critical illness coverage. or similar products. The framework applies to all LIA members, including life insurers and reinsurers that are licensed to operate in Singapore. What does the moratorium mean for you? In your insurance applications, insurers may ask that you confirm you have read and understood the moratorium. Under the moratorium, insurers cannot require or pressure you to take a genetic test for insurance underwriting. This applies to all such tests, including predictive, diagnostic, pharmacogenetic or prenatal and newborn screening genetic tests. Insurance underwriting is the process that insurers take to evaluate the risk of insuring a person and decide how much he or she should pay for coverage. In addition, if you have done genetic testing under the new national FH genetic testing programme, insurers are not allowed to ask for or use your test results, both predictive and diagnostic, in insurance underwriting. A predictive test reveals the risk of developing a condition in the future while a diagnostic test confirms a current illness. Are there exceptions to the moratorium on the use of genetic test results? If you have previously taken other genetic tests, insurers cannot ask for or use your results in insurance underwriting. However, there are two exceptions. First, if the test was a diagnostic genetic test that confirmed diagnosis of a disease, insurers can request this as part of your medical history. Second, if you are applying for life, total permanent disability, long-term care, critical illness or disability income insurance, insurers may request your predictive genetic test results only if both of the following conditions are met: The sum assured or payout you are applying for is higher than the approved financial limit (see table below) set out in the moratorium The predictive genetic test you took is one of the approved ones set out in the moratorium - the HTT test for Huntington's Disease and the BRCA1/2 test for breast cancer The moratorium also does not affect insurers' ability to request or use diagnosis or family history, as per current industry practice. In addition, the moratorium only applies to insurance policies that were already in effect before its rollout. For instance, only policies signed on or after Jun 30 will be subject to the updated moratorium. What if you happen to reveal predictive genetic test results to your insurer? The rules of the moratorium still hold as it applies to accidental disclosure as well. This means insurers cannot consider the predictive genetic test result unless the two conditions, stated above under the exceptions, are met. If the predictive genetic test result is favourable, insurers may use it in deciding the underwriting outcome. Does the moratorium cover prenatal or newborn genetic screening? No, the moratorium does not apply to genetic tests done as part of prenatal or newborn screening, for example, tests for metabolic or inherited disorders in babies. These results are treated like other clinical diagnostic tests, and whether they are used in insurance decisions is up to individual insurers. If such tests are done as part of medical care, insurers may consider the results during underwriting, just like with other medical diagnoses. What can you do if you suspect non-compliance with the moratorium? If you are concerned with how an insurer has handled your genetic test information, you may work directly with them to resolve your complaint or feedback. If both parties fail to reach a resolution, you may file a complaint with the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre, or approach the Singapore Mediation Centre for mediation.
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Singapore to launch nationwide genetic testing for hereditary cholesterol disorder
SINGAPORE, June 20 — Singapore will begin a national genetic testing programme for a potentially life-threatening cholesterol disorder on June 30, the country's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced yesterday. The initiative targets early detection of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a hereditary condition that impairs the body's ability to manage cholesterol levels. Left untreated, FH can raise the risk of heart attacks by up to 20 times, particularly at a younger age. An estimated 20,000 people in Singapore may be affected by FH. The new programme will be rolled out at three Genomic Assessment Centres (GACs), each operated by one of Singapore's healthcare clusters. The first centre — run by SingHealth — will be housed at the National Heart Centre and will begin accepting referrals from June 30. Two more centres, under the National Healthcare Group and National University Health System, will open in stages. The GACs will provide both pre- and post-test genetic counselling to help patients understand the outcomes and implications of their test results. The test involves a blood draw and genetic analysis to confirm the presence of FH. Who qualifies for testing? Singaporeans and permanent residents with LDL-C cholesterol levels of 5.5mmol/L (212mg/dL) or higher — considered abnormally high — may be referred for FH testing. If confirmed to have FH, their immediate family members, including parents, siblings and children, will also be encouraged to undergo testing through a process known as cascade screening. 'This allows for timelier intervention and treatment, such as advising them to adopt healthier lifestyles and starting them on cholesterol-lowering therapies, if necessary,' said MOH. Subsidies and costs The total cost of FH testing — covering blood collection, lab analysis, and counselling sessions — will be subsidised by up to 70 per cent for eligible Singaporeans and permanent residents. After subsidies, patients can expect to pay between S$117 (RM387) and S$575. Immediate family members of FH-positive individuals can expect subsidised costs of between S$53 and S$253. Additional financial support is available through the MediSave500/700 schemes, and seniors aged 60 and above can also use Flexi-MediSave to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. MOH noted that most patients who test positive for FH will require long-term management through medication and lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and regular exercise, to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Patients are encouraged to continue follow-ups with their primary care provider, such as polyclinics or GP clinics. Those enrolled in Healthier SG will also have access to subsidised chronic medication for FH. Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post yesterday that the programme reflects Singapore's push toward predictive preventive care. 'We want to expand preventive care based on genetic testing to more diseases, beyond FH,' he wrote. 'It is part of our longer-term effort to develop predictive preventive care under Healthier SG.'
CNA
a day ago
- Health
- CNA
National genetic testing programme to identify patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia
A national genetic testing programme will be launched at the end of June for a disorder that causes people to have very high levels of what is often called "bad cholesterol". The Health Ministry says the programme aims to identify and provide early intervention to those suffering from familial hypercholesterolaemia.
CNA
a day ago
- Health
- CNA
Singapore launches national genetic testing programme for inherited cholesterol condition
SINGAPORE: Singapore will on Jun 30 start a national genetic testing programme for an inherited cholesterol condition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (Jun 19). The programme aims to identify individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) early and reduce the risk of premature heart disease for these individuals with timely interventions. An estimated 20,000 people in Singapore have FH, a condition that affects the body's ability to process cholesterol. People with FH face a "significantly higher risk" – up to 20 times more – of experiencing heart attacks at a younger age compared with the general population. It is a hereditary condition. MOH plans to open three Genomic Assessment Centres (GAC) within each of the three healthcare clusters. The first, operated by SingHealth, will be located at the National Heart Centre. It will start accepting referrals from Jun 30. Two other centres, operated by the National Healthcare Group and National University Health System, will be opened subsequently. Individuals referred to these centres will undergo pre-test genetic counselling to understand potential outcomes and benefits before the test, the drawing of blood and the test. They will also get post-test genetic counselling to understand the implications of the results. WHO QUALIFIES? Singaporeans and permanent residents with "abnormally high" cholesterol levels may be referred by their doctors to the GAC for FH genetic testing. Abnormally high levels refer to LDL-C levels of more than or equal to 5.5mmol/L or 212mg/dL. If a person tests positive for FH, their immediate family members – parents, siblings and children – will be at risk and are encouraged to undergo genetic testing. This process is known as cascade screening and enables early detection of FH within families. "In turn, it allows for timelier intervention and treatment, such as advising them to adopt healthier lifestyles and starting them on cholesterol-lowering therapies, if necessary, to reduce their risk of premature heart disease," said MOH. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said: "We want to expand preventive care based on genetic testing to more diseases, beyond FH. "It is part of our longer-term effort to develop predictive preventive care under Healthier SG." HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? The costs for FH genetic testing include the drawing of blood, tests, as well as pre-test and post-test counselling. At the GACs, eligible Singaporeans and permanent residents can get means-tested subsidies of up to 70 per cent for these costs. Seniors from the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation are eligible for additional subsidies. After subsidies, patients who are referred to do FH testing can expect to pay between S$117 (US$91) and S$575. Eligible immediate family members of those who have tested positive for FH can expect to pay between S$53 and S$253 after subsidies. MediSave500/700 can be used to further offset the cost of the genetic test after subsidies. Patients who are 60 and above may also use Flexi-MediSave to further defray out-of-pocket costs. Most patients who test positive for FH will require a combination of medication and lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes and physical activity, to achieve a healthy cholesterol level and prevent premature heart disease, MOH said. "Patients are advised to follow up with a primary care provider at the polyclinics or general practitioner (GP) clinics, or with their family doctor if they are enrolled in Healthier SG for continued management. Subsidies are available for selected chronic medications," it added. INSURANCE A moratorium on genetic testing and insurance was introduced by MOH and the Life Insurance Association Singapore (LIA) in October 2021. Under this agreement, life insurers in Singapore are not allowed to use predictive genetic test results in assessing or deciding the outcome of insurance applications, unless certain criteria are satisfied. Insurers are also not allowed to use genetic test results from biomedical research or direct-to-consumer genetic test results MOH has worked with the LIA to amend the moratorium to disallow life insurers in Singapore from using the results of all genetic tests - both predictive and diagnostic - conducted under the national FH genetic testing programme. "As with standard insurance underwriting practice, they may however request individuals to disclose existing diagnosed conditions (including FH) and family history.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Eli Lilly to acquire gene-editing therapy developer Verve Therapeutics for up to $1.3 billion, companies say
June 17 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab will acquire Verve Therapeutics (VERV.O), opens new tab for up to $1.3 billion, the companies said on Tuesday. Verve is developing therapies targeting genes that regulate cholesterol in the liver.
