The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has set new standards for electronic paperless requests for medical information that insurers need when providing cover.
Based on the newly published guidelines, insurers can only obtain medical information electronically when a customer has given consent.
Under ABI’s latest standards, GPs must be allowed to check that the data is correct before sending it to an insurance company. They can amend, delete or add sensitive personal information before responding to the insurer.
Insurers’ electronic request should also be at least as secure as, or be more secure than, the current paper-based system of obtaining medical information.
Requests should be made in accordance with a patient’s rights under relevant legislation, such as the Access to Medical Reports Act 1998.
According to the ABI, the new guidelines aim to protect patients’ personal medical data and speed up the application process for both insurers and customers.
“Obtaining this information electronically could also speed up applications for insurance cover, ensuring customers receive their cover faster than before, as well as making life easier for doctors,” said Raluca Boroianu-Omura, ABI assistant director and head of health and protection.
“These guiding principles are an important foundation to ensure that everyone has confidence that safeguards are in place to robustly and consistently protect an individual’s personal medical information,” Boroianu-Omura added.
The ABI published the new guidelines with input from the Information Commissioner’s Office and the British Medical Association.
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