After a short historical resume, screening is discussed on the basis of the current philosophy of Life insurance compaines in leading countries. This is followed by considerations with regard to the future in areas of major bearing on Life insurance screening which have emerged as important within the last decade. HIV-antibody testing is dealt with from the screening point of view followed by aspects regarding the applicability of tumour marker use in Life insurance medicine. Last but not least genetic testing will be addressed, taking into account prospects for the future, as well as the resulting responsibility in medical and underwriting terms. The major considerations and suggested guidelines can be summarized as follows: 1) Screening in Life insurance is a prerequisite for underwriting and is a well-functioning selection instrument. 2) Screening technologies are medically well defined and have to follow general clinical rules, also in the future. 3) Screening parameters should follow the patterns of diseases according to age and risk groups. 4) Screening parameters for prognostic use are legitimate as long as they are considered in conjuction with clinical medical observations and rules. 5) Screening technologies of a sensitive nature require very special rules for handling in the sense of "consequential ethies". 6) Screening parameters like HIV-antibody testing require ongoing scientific feedback in their new testing dimensions. 7) Screening in the form of genetic testing is as yet not used in Life insurance; its potential future role in Life insurfance medicine must, however, be discussed responsibly and in time. 8) Screening enables the insurance industry to rule out possible antiselection and provide for equal knowledge on the part of the insurance applicant and the insurer about impairements which shorten life expectancy. 9) Screening, informed consent, counselling and confidentiality must go hand in hand both now and to an even greater extent in the future.