Genetic Discrimination is History!
May 24, 2008
Genetic Discrimination is now against the law whether the discrimination is for insurance or employment. The Genetic Information Discrimination Act (HR 493) was signed by the president, Wednesday. This prohibits insurers and employers from discrimination on the grounds of genetic information.
Genetic testing results cannot be used by health plans and insurance companies to set coverage rates or determine eligibility. In addition, genetic information cannot be used by employers making hiring, firing, promotion or other job decisions.
In one year the insurance part of the measure will take effect while the employment part will take an additional six months. Pre existing conditions can still determine coverage rates. The US military is exempt from the legislation.
More than 1000 diseases can be genetically tested for. In the near future there will be hundreds more that could be genetically tested for. Many people use false names for genetic testing so that insurers or employers do not access such information.
President Bush said it was an honor for him to sign this measure since it was ethical and protected the genetic information of citizens from misuse. We agree whole heartedly.
