Welcome Illumina
Employees and Family
Every day, you and your colleagues at Illumina help individuals learn about their genome. Genome Medical is here to provide you and your family with access to genetic experts who can address your questions, provide genetic consultations, facilitate germline and somatic genetic testing and offer guidance as you integrate genetics into your health care.
Who Should Get Genetic Counseling?
Anyone interested in learning how their genetics may impact their health can have genetic counseling, whether or not they have a genetic condition in their family. People may seek genetic counseling with a certified genetic counselor from Genome Medical for different reasons.
"My grandpa died of a heart condition at 53. Can genetic testing help tell me if I'm at risk too?"
"I am curious about my DNA. What can genetic testing tell me about my future health risk?"
"My partner and I are thinking about having kids. Should we consider genetic testing?"
Schedule your free genomic consultation today!
Illumina employees, spouses/domestic partners and children who reside in the United States are eligible to access this benefit.
Are you an Illumina employee outside the U.S.? Learn more.
Can employees outside the U.S. participate?
Employees and their eligible family members outside of the U.S. can utilize educational resources available through Genome Medical, including live support and peer-to-peer consultations. Due to regulations and licensure laws related to the practice of medicine, Genome Medical genetic counselors and physicians cannot provide direct patient care to individuals outside of the U.S. However, they will support your personal physician with any questions regarding your genetic care through peer-to-peer consultation.
Contact us at clinical@genomemedical.com or (877) 688-0992 to learn more about physician support outside the U.S.
Four Key Steps of Genetic Counseling
How Does Genetic
Counseling Work?
Genetic counseling often includes a discussion about genetic testing, but it is a common myth that it is only valuable after you have a genetic test. Speaking with a certified genetic counselor from Genome Medical is actually just as valuable before you have genetic testing, at the beginning of your genetic journey. A genetic counselor can be your partner to help you navigate this journey. Genetic counseling usually follows four key steps:
STEP ONE
Attend an Initial Consultation
Illumina will cover the cost for Illumina employees and their dependents (spouses/domestic partners and children) to have a one-on-one consultation with a Genome Medical genetic counselor. A genetic counselor will review your health history and your family’s health history. If genetic testing can help, a genetic counselor will walk you through your options, tell you about the benefits and limitations and help you decide if you want to proceed with genetic testing. Genome Medical will order genetic testing for you, if appropriate, and can help you determine if your insurance will cover the cost of your testing.
STEP TWO
Genetic Testing
Depending on the test, genetic testing is usually done with a saliva or blood sample. If you need to give a saliva sample, Genome Medical will help coordinate shipping a collection kit to your home that you can return directly to the testing laboratory. If you need to give a blood sample, you will be scheduled to have your blood drawn at a time and place convenient to you. The wait time for results varies, depending on the test. Many genetic tests are covered by insurance, but out-of-pockets costs will vary based on your specific insurance plan.
STEP THREE
Review Your Results with a Genetic Counselor
Genetic test results can be complex. A genetic counselor can explain what your results mean—and don’t mean—so that you understand them and can meaningfully use the insights that you’ve learned to manage your health. Illumina will cover the cost of any post-test genetic counseling sessions for you, your spouse, domestic partner and/or child.
STEP FOUR
Integration
Your genetic counselor will create a personalized action plan so that you can take advantage of what you learned and share it with your doctor and other family members. This may include actionable recommendations for specific disease screening or more frequent screening, evaluation by specialists or ongoing monitoring. We believe your personal doctor is an important partner to help you maximize your genetic test results and stay healthy.
Schedule Your Genetic
Counseling Session
With Genome Medical, you can simply schedule your consultation with a certified genetic counselor online and attend from the comfort of your own home. Secure video sessions are flexible and available to suit your schedule.
We are transforming everyday care
by connecting you with genetic experts
We deliver easy and seamless genetic expertise in the following areas of clinical care:
Cancer
Learn MoreCANCER
5% to 10% of all cancers are due to an inherited reason.
Cancer is a common disease that happens when cells in a part of the body grow and divide too much, leading to cancer cells that can spread. Our genes contain DNA with instructions for different aspects of our health, including cell growth. Some genes in our body protect us from getting cancer. If one of these genes has a small change called a mutation within it, this can give us a higher risk of developing cancer.
Is Cancer Genetic?
Gene mutations can happen because of our lifestyle or environment (like smoking and lung cancer or ultraviolet light exposure and skin cancer), can happen randomly as we age, and/or can be inherited. Hereditary cancer happens when an individual inherits a gene mutation from one of their parents, which increases the risk for certain types of cancer.
Program Details
Illumina employees, spouses/domestic partners and children are eligible to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a genetic counselor to discuss inherited cancer, including assessing the risks, evaluating the need for genetic testing, helping with test ordering and sample collection, and providing post-test counseling. Test costs will be billed to insurance when medically necessary. For medically indicated TruGenome™ UDD Tests (used for RUGD cases) or Foundation Medicine cancer tests, costs will be covered in full by Illumina. Costs for other medically indicated tests will be billed to insurance, or a self-pay option is available in some cases.
Cardio
Learn MoreCARDIO
At least 1 in 250 people have a hereditary heart condition.
Heart disease is common and can happen for several reasons. Most heart (cardiac) diseases are due to risk factors in health (like blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes), age, biological sex, race, diet, lifestyle or certain medications. When many risk factors are present, they can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis), most heart attacks or strokes. But heart disease can also be inherited (passed down in a family). Inherited heart disease is due to changes in genes, which we inherit from our parents and can pass on to our children. Inherited heart conditions can run in families and happen to people of all ages. Examples of inherited heart conditions include cardiomyopathy (problem with the heart muscle), long QT syndrome or Brugada syndrome, some aortic aneurysms (bulging of the main artery off of the heart) or heart attacks at a young age.
Benefits of a Cardio Genetic Evaluation
While inherited heart conditions can be serious, identifying if you or someone in your family may be at increased risk to have an inherited heart problem can help guide your medical management to reduce any associated risks. While it may be difficult to think about these risk factors in your family’s health history, certified genetic counselors from Genome Medical can be a supportive partner as you explore the possibility of an inherited heart condition in you or your family, including whether genetic testing could help.
Program Details
Illumina employees, spouses/domestic partners and children are eligible to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a genetic counselor to assess your risk of an inherited cardiac predisposition, evaluate the need for genetic testing, help with test ordering and sample collection and provide post-test counseling. For medically indicated TruGenome™ UDD Tests (used for RUGD cases) or Foundation Medicine cancer tests, costs will be covered in full by Illumina. Costs for other medically indicated tests will be billed to insurance, or a self-pay option is available in some cases.
Proactive
Learn MorePROACTIVE
1 in 6 healthy individuals will have an actionable finding from genetic testing of common diseases that will change their care.
Many times, we think about our health after we develop signs or symptoms. Proactive health takes that idea and flips it around—instead of waiting for problems to show up, proactive genetics looks for genetic risk factors, regardless of your personal or family history to try to identify risk factors that you may not be aware of. You may not be aware of genetic risks in your family because the condition is common and often attributed to environmental factors, you don’t have access to family health history (adoption, strained family relationships, culture of privacy), or it is a disease that doesn’t manifest in every generation or any number of other reasons. Proactive or healthy genetic testing is intended for individuals who don’t have a medical indication for testing but want to identify actionable genetic information that could influence their health or health management in the future.
Proactive genetic testing can focus on specific health conditions or it can be broader. This depends on your health, your family’s health and your preferences for learning health risk information. After considering this, your genetic counselor will work with you to discuss your best genetic testing options and help you make decisions. Most commonly, proactive genetic testing includes risk factors for some forms of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and how we might respond to certain medications.
Program Details
There are several different genetic testing options for employees who want to be proactive about their health. These tests may assess risks for hereditary cancer syndromes, hereditary cardiac disorders, hereditary neurologic disorders, carrier status, pharmacogenomics and more. The cost of testing can range from $250 to $2,000, depending on the level of testing performed. Some proactive genetic screening may be covered by your insurance plan; however, in our experience, this type of genetic testing will most often be an out-of-pocket expense.
Reproductive
Learn MoreREPRODUCTIVE
3% of all babies are born with a birth defect in the United States each year, and about 20% of birth defects are caused by genetic or hereditary factors.
Reproductive genetics is health care that focuses on genetic risks or conditions that can be passed from parent to child through their genes during a pregnancy. Genes contain instructions for our traits, including aspects of our health. Everyone has a few genes that don’t work correctly due to small changes (mutations) within them. Most times, these mutations do not affect our health, and we don’t even know we have them. Our child can randomly inherit these mutations from us in the genes we pass down, which may or may not cause our child to have health problems.
Genome Medical’s board-certified genetic counselors meet with many women and couples to help them learn more about their reproductive genetic health. An initial reproductive genetic counseling appointment may happen before a pregnancy (preconception consultation) or during a pregnancy (prenatal consultation).
Program Details
Illumina employees, spouses/domestic partners and children are eligible to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a genetic counselor to assess your reproductive risks, evaluate the need for genetic testing, help with test ordering and sample collection and provide post-test counseling. For medically indicated TruGenome™ UDD Tests (used for RUGD cases) or Foundation Medicine cancer tests, costs will be covered in full by Illumina. Costs for other medically indicated tests will be billed to insurance, or a self-pay option is available in some cases.
Pharmacy
Learn MorePHARMACY
ADEs (adverse drug events) are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.; patients taking two drugs have a 13% risk of ADEs, 38% risk when taking four drugs and 82% risk when taking seven or more drugs.
The field of pharmacogenomics, sometimes referred to as pharmacogenetics, combines the knowledge of our genetic makeup with the knowledge of how medicines work. How well a medication works is in part due to our unique genetic makeup. This includes how effective the medicine is, whether we experience negative side effects and how long the medicine continues to work inside our body. Pharmacogenomics is a growing field that attempts to use this information to help doctors select the right medications and doses to help us.
How Can Pharmacogenomics Impact Your Health?
Even though medications might be labeled as one size fits all, they aren’t when it comes to effectiveness, dosage and side effects. People experience these differently, which often leads to a trial-and-error period to find the right medication. Adverse drug reactions are a big problem for patients and the health care system. More than 2 million Americans experience a serious adverse drug reaction every year, and these reactions are the fourth leading cause of death. This is higher than the number of Americans that die each year from workplace injuries.
Program Details
Illumina employees, spouses/domestic partners and children are eligible to schedule a one-on-one appointment with a genetic counselor to review your current medication list, evaluate the benefits of pharmacogenomic genetic testing, help with test ordering and sample collection and provide post-test counseling. For medically indicated TruGenome™ UDD Tests (used for RUGD cases) or Foundation Medicine cancer tests, costs will be covered in full by Illumina. Costs for other medically indicated tests will be billed to insurance, or a self-pay option is available in some cases.
Educational Resources
Expert Webinars to Inform and Guide Your Genomics Education
Learn More by Reading These Common Questions About Genetics
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Genome Medical?
Illumina has partnered with Genome Medical to offer our employees and their families access to genomic education and experts through chat, phone or email. Genome Medical provides educational and health-related information that progresses the understanding of genomics and helps employees get answers on a variety of questions. General genetic questions or more detailed personalized inquiries can be answered by the Genome Medical clinical team.
Why did Illumina launch the first employer-sponsored workplace genomics program?
The first Illumina employee sequencing program launched in 2014 and we have learned a lot since then. We have seen the marketplace for sequencing tests and screenings explode, while at the same time, employees expressed the need for education as a first step in their genomics journey. We have also witnessed the power of genetic counseling and doctor-to-doctor consultations to advance patient understanding and care. Illumina is excited to have partnered with Genome Medical to launch our workplace genomics program.
Who is eligible for this program?
Illumina employees and their dependents (spouses/domestic partners and children) are eligible under our Genome Access program.
Are other family members, such as parents and siblings, eligible for the program?
All other eligible family members can access the program, but the cost of the Genome Medical services will be paid by the family member.
Can employees outside the U.S. participate?
Employees and their eligible family members outside of the U.S. can utilize educational resources available through Genome Medical, including live support and peer-to-peer consultations. Due to regulations and licensure laws related to the practice of medicine, Genome Medical genetic counselors and physicians cannot provide direct patient care to individuals outside of the U.S. However, they will support your personal physician with any questions regarding your genetic care through peer-to-peer consultation.
Is there a minimum period of employment required before regular Illumina employees can access this program?
No. There is no waiting period required. Regular Illumina employees can take advantage of this program immediately.
How do employees access services from Genome Medical?
Connect via chat, phone or email with a genetic expert who can address your questions here.
Can Genome Medical order genetic tests?
Genome Medical’s health care providers have ordering privileges in all 50 states in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., Genome Medical will work with your personal physician to order a genetic test or identify a local physician who can order a genetic test. Please note that additional charges may apply for local physician services.
How are results reported from genetic tests ordered through Genome Medical?
The lab performing the test will generate a result report, which will be provided to the physician that ordered your test; this may be your personal physician or a Genome Medical physician. In addition to providing you with a copy of the lab report, Genome Medical will create a clinical action plan that provides specific recommendations for any follow-up care that is appropriate based on your genetic test result in combination with your personal and family history.
Can genetic testing be used proactively to screen for genetic conditions?
Yes. There are several different genetic testing options for employees who want to be proactive about their health. These tests may assess risks for hereditary cancer syndromes, hereditary cardiac disorders, hereditary neurologic disorders, carrier status, pharmacogenomics and more. The cost of testing can range from $250 to $2,000.
Will Illumina continue its financial support for Rare and Undiagnosed Genetic Diseases (RUGD), Foundation Medicine and Reproductive Health?
Yes. Our financial support for RUGD, Foundation Medicine and Reproductive Health continues. As a new step for employees facing rare and undiagnosed genetic diseases or cancer, Genome Medical should be their first call.
Will Illumina continue to offer the TruGenome™ Predisposition Screen?
No. Illumina has decided to discontinue the TruGenome™ Predisposition Screen. Genome Medical will work with other laboratories offering whole genome, exome and proactive health genetic tests and can work with employees to choose the test that is appropriate for their individual needs. These tests are often offered at a price less than what employees would have paid for the discounted price of the TruGenome™ Predisposition Screen.
Is there a cost for using services through Genome Medical?
There is no cost for Illumina employees and their dependents (spouses/domestic partners and children) to access education or genetic counseling services through Genome Medical. However, employees and immediate family members will be responsible for the cost of any genetic tests with the exception of the TruGenome™ UDD Test (the test used for RUGD cases), Foundation Medicine cancer or the Galleri test – clinical eligibility requirements must be met to access these tests at no cost. When medically appropriate, genetic testing will be billed to your health insurance.
What is the cost for extended family members such as parents or siblings if they want to use the Genome Medical Services?
Other family members may use Genome Medical services and can self-pay. The cost of consultation may range from $179 and may be covered by their health insurance.
Will Illumina cover the cost of any genetic testing discussed with Genome Medical?
Employees and their dependents (spouse/domestic partner and children) will be responsible for the cost of any genetic tests with the exception of the TruGenome™ UDD Test (the test used for RUGD cases), Foundation Medicine cancer test or the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test – clinical eligibility requirements must be met to access these tests at no cost. When medically appropriate, genetic testing will be billed to your health insurance.
What is the cost of the TruGenome™ Undiagnosed Disease Test (UDD)?
Illumina will directly cover the cost of the following tests if not covered by your insurance. It is available at no cost to the employee and immediate family members (children, spouse, domestic partner, parents) for UDD single or trio test. The cost for other eligible family members is $2,500. This cost includes whole genome sequencing and interpretation of the genome.
Who is eligible for the TruGenome™ Undiagnosed Disease Test (UDD)?
The UDD test is a genetic testing for patients with rare and undiagnosed genetic diseases (RUGD). This test is used when targeted genetic testing focused on the disease presentation has not identified a genetic cause for the patient’s symptoms and there is a belief that despite prior negative genetic testing, there may be an unidentified genetic cause. The UDD test may also be used in cases where the patient has a combinations of symptoms for which there is no clinically available genetic test. Because UDD is intended for use in rare cases and where other testing has been inconclusive, in most cases UDD will not be the first test offered.
What is Foundation Medicine testing?
If you or an immediate family member* has been diagnosed with cancer, Genome Medical is here to work with you, your family and your oncologist to support you through your cancer care. As an Illumina employee, you and your family members have access to Foundation Medicine testing at no charge. This testing may be used by oncologists to help determine which chemotherapies may work best to treat cancer when chemotherapy is needed. This test is often used in situations when someone is not responding to standard chemotherapies. If this Foundation Medicine testing is something that you and/or your oncologist are interested in pursuing, please contact Genome Medical at clinical@genomemedical or (877) 688-0992. We will work with your oncologist to make sure this testing is ordered and performed at no cost to yourself or your loved one.
*Family members covered by this benefit include spouses/domestic partners and children.
What are the cost and details of the Foundation Medicine tests?
Illumina will directly cover the cost of the tests if not covered by your insurance. The Foundation Medicine cancer tests are available at no cost to Illumina employees and their dependents (spouses/domestic partners and children). Foundation Medicine will directly bill Illumina for the cost of the test. All other eligible family members will be referred to Foundation Medicine for pricing information and next steps.
Foundation Medicine offers the following genetic testing for patients diagnosed with cancer (not intended for healthy patients with a family history of cancer).
- FoundationOne®CDX is the first FDA-approved broad companion diagnostic with Medicare coverage for qualifying patients across all solid tumors, including: NSCLC, Colorectal, Breast, Ovarian and Melanoma. This test utilizes advanced genomic sequencing technology to provide a detailed understanding of what is driving an individual patient’s tumor at the genetic level, which can help guide a personalized treatment plan.
- FoundationOne® LIQUID is a genetic test using a simple blood sample (sometimes called a liquid biopsy). This test is appropriate for patients with solid tumors in order to help guide targeted therapy, immunotherapy and clinical trial options.
- FoundationOne® HEME is a fully informative genomic profile for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, and for sarcomas. It is performed on blood, bone marrow or tissue and may help identify targeted therapy, immunotherapy or clinical trial options.
In the U.S., can Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) be used to pay for the tests?
The cost of the tests may be covered under the FSA Health Care Account or Health Savings account, if the primary purpose of the test is for “diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.” The expense must be primarily used to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness and not merely beneficial to general health. FSA or HSA can only be used for your immediate family members (i.e., spouse or children).
How will Illumina protect confidentiality as well as my health information and the health of my family member(s), including the Galleri test information?
Illumina takes patient privacy seriously. Illumina, Genome Medical and the GRAIL Laboratory will maintain the health information in compliance with all applicable medical privacy laws, including HIPAA, GINA, etc. Genome Medical will not share any health information with Illumina. Use of the Genomics Resource Center is confidential.
Does Illumina have access to genetic test results from Foundation Medicine?
No. Foundation Medicine does not share test results with Illumina, only with the employee’s physician.
Will any tests use my genome information to conduct research, or to develop products and services?
Laboratories that operate under CLIA and CAP standards typically use samples or information to help improve quality for future patients. This includes tracking variant frequencies to help understand the potential implications of results and using information to identify regions for technical improvements. If testing is ordered through the Illumina Clinical Services Lab, no biological research is conducted using your genetic information or your samples. Every laboratory has its own policies and consent forms. If you have a test ordered through Genome Medical, your genetic counselor will discuss the testing lab’s policy on research before the test is ordered.
Is additional information available?
Yes. For more information or to connect with a genetic expert who can address your questions, click here.