What You Should Know:
- Genomics plc (Genomics), a healthcare company transforming health through the power of genomics, and MassMutual, a leading mutual life insurance company in the United States, today announced the next phase of their innovative partnership enabling more eligible MassMutual policyowners to gain knowledge about their health in order to make informed, proactive decisions that may help them lead longer, healthier lives.
- The program offers a genetic risk assessment service to these individuals, providing insight into their personalized risk for eight major diseases. The expansion follows a successful research collaboration in which more than 70% of policyowners who elected to use the risk assessment service reported intent to take preventative actions based on their risk scores, including plans to see their doctor or seek further screening.
Empowering Health Insights: MassMutual’s Collaborative Genomics Program
The Genomics at-home test scrutinizes millions of subtle DNA variations, generating polygenic risk scores that can indicate the likelihood of specific conditions. This novel form of genetic risk assessment holds promise in enhancing individuals’ health outcomes by fostering patient engagement and assisting healthcare providers in making more informed decisions. In the initial collaboration between Genomics and MassMutual, one in five policyholders discovered they were at elevated risk for preventable diseases.
The expanded program offers eligible MassMutual policyholders aged 35-70 the opportunity to undergo polygenic risk testing via a saliva test, revealing hidden risks for eight common conditions: atrial fibrillation, breast or prostate cancer (depending on biological sex), cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low bone density, and type 2 diabetes. Alongside insights into their risk for each condition, policyholders receive personalized health advice and a report they can discuss with their doctor to mitigate the likelihood of developing these conditions.
A crucial aspect of this collaboration is a shared dedication to data privacy. Policyholders participate voluntarily, with their results never disclosed to MassMutual and having no impact on current premiums or policies. MassMutual solely receives anonymized, high-level data from Genomics, enabling a better understanding of aggregate policyholder health, behaviors, and interest in such offerings.
The collaboration with Genomics forms part of MassMutual’s broader Health and Wellness Program, which prioritizes initiatives that equip policyholders with insights into their potential health risks, empowering them to pursue suitable interventions and adopt healthier lifestyles.
“While the study of genomics is not new, it now provides an enormous opportunity to help individuals live their longest, healthiest lives. By giving individuals and their doctors much more precise information about the particular health risks they face, they can take the right actions, at the right time, to help prevent disease entirely, or to catch it early when outcomes are much better,” said Sir Peter Donnelly, co-founder and chief executive officer, Genomics. “As a leader in insurance, MassMutual is one of the first to understand the untapped value genomics brings in making proactive and preventative health choices. We’re thrilled to work alongside a partner aligned with our mission of transforming health and making this technology more widely available.”
