Systems and methods for underwriting risks utilizing epigenetic information

• US 20090099877A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K.Y., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Application Number:
  US11/974,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099877A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and devices are described for calculating insurance premiums based upon epigenetic information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual;

(b) correlating at least one aspect of said epigenetic information for said at least one individual to a health risk;

(c) underwriting a financial risk at least partially based upon said correlation for at least one of said at least one individual and another individual; and

(d) setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting.

2. A device comprising:

(a) means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual;

(b) means for correlating at least one aspect of said epigenetic information for said at least one individual to a health risk;

(c) means for underwriting a financial risk at least partially based upon said correlation for at least one of said at least one individual or another individual; and

(d) means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for establishing at least one of an exclusionary period, a categorization-level, a class, a premium escalation, a term, a coverage limitation, or a condition.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for correlating at least one aspect of said epigenetic information for said at least one individual to a health risk comprises:

means for determining a statistical correlation between at least one aspect of said epigenetic information and said health risk.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for correlating at least one aspect of said epigenetic information for said at least one individual to a health risk comprises:

means for counting an occurrence of at least one clinical outcome.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for reviewing information regarding DNA methylation for said at least one individual.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for reviewing information regarding histone structure for said at least one individual.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for reviewing information regarding multiple genomic loci for said at least one individual.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for reviewing information regarding at least two chromosomes for said at least one individual.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for comparing information regarding said at least one individual to information regarding a second individual having an attribute in common with said at least one individual.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for reviewing information regarding mosaicism of said at least one individual.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual comprises:

means for setting at least one of a benefit cap or a lifetime maximum at least partially based upon said epigenetic information for said at least one individual.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for an administrative services only employer health maintenance plan.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium for an administrative services only employer health maintenance plan comprises:

means for establishing at least one of an exclusionary period, a categorization-level, a class, a premium escalation, a term, a coverage limitation, or a condition.

15. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for an employee assistance program.

16. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for a flexible spending account.

17. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for a group health plan.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium for a group health plan comprises:

means for establishing a guarantee issue rate liability for at least two group health plans.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium for a group health plan comprises:

means for establishing a preventative care program for said at least one individual at least partially based upon said epigenetic information for said at least one individual.

20. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for establishing a schedule of at least one of benefits or exclusions for said at least one individual at least partially based upon said epigenetic information for said at least one individual.

21. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for identifying at least one impaired risk factor for at least one health insurance applicant having an associated rejection, an associated rider, or an associated categorization-level; and

means for accepting said health insurance applicant having at least one of a modified rider or a modified categorization level change.

22. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for at least one health maintenance organization.

23. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for at least one health reimbursement arrangement.

24. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for at least one health savings account.

25. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for at least one indemnity health plan.

26. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting comprises:

means for setting a health insurance premium for at least one preferred provider organization.

27. A device comprising:

(a) circuitry for reviewing epigenetic information for at least one individual;

(b) circuitry for correlating at least one aspect of said epigenetic information for said at least one individual to a health risk;

(c) circuitry for underwriting a financial risk at least partially based upon said correlation for at least one of said at least one individual or another individual; and

(d) circuitry for setting a health insurance premium at least partially based upon said underwriting.