Life Insurance Company AIG Facing Class Action Over Alleged Violation of Illinois Genetic Privacy Law

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AIG Assurance Company faces a proposed class action over its allegedly unlawful use of Illinois residents’ family medical histories to assess their eligibility for life insurance coverage and calculate their insurance premiums.

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The 12-page lawsuit claims AIG, a life insurance company headquartered in Chicago, has violated the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act by using residents’ genetic data—which includes their family medical histories—for certain underwriting purposes. 

Specifically, AIG requires prospective customers to undergo a physical examination during which they are asked to reveal details about their family medical histories, then uses this information to determine their eligibility for coverage and the price of their premium, the case alleges.

The plaintiff, an Illinois resident who applied for AIG life insurance coverage in July 2023, says that during the mandatory physical, he was asked to disclose whether his family members had a history of high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes and other medical conditions. The complaint contends that the man’s responses were documented and then used to make decisions about his potential insurance policy, in violation of his genetic privacy rights.

According to the suit, thousands of other prospective AIG policyholders throughout the state have had their “uniquely private and sensitive” genetic information misused by the insurer to potentially discriminate against them.

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone who, during the applicable statute of limitations period, applied for insurance coverage with AIG in Illinois and from whom the company, or an agent acting on its behalf, requested and/or obtained family medical history or other genetic information according to its records.

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