Can my insurance company or my employer use my genetic results against me?

Home » Can my insurance company or my employer use my genetic results against me?

A Federal law that protects you from discrimination in employment and health insurance decisions is called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). It is important to know that GINA does not apply to long-term care, disability, or life insurance, so there are no Federal protections for those other types of insurance. Also, if you have or have had medical diagnoses, health insurers can use that information in their decisions regardless of genetic test results. For more information about genetic discrimination and GINA, see http://www.genome.gov/10002328/genetic-discrimination-fact-sheet/ and http://ginahelp.org/.

If you are a service member in the military, GINA does not apply. Service members have different protections that focus on ensuring readiness. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5685294/ for more information.

Vermont laws also prohibits use of genetic information in the context of employment [even small employers], membership in a labor organization, professional licensure, certification, or registration. See https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/18/217 for more information. If you move to another state, that state’s protections may differ.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) federal law protects you from discrimination in employment and health insurance decisions. It is important to know that GINA does not apply to long-term care, disability or life insurance, so there are no federal protections for those other types of insurance. Also, if you have or have had medical diagnoses, health insurers can use that information in their decisions regardless of genetic test results. For more information about genetic discrimination and GINA, see http://www.genome.gov/10002328/genetic-discrimination-fact-sheet/ and http://ginahelp.org/.

Vermont laws also prohibits use of genetic information in the context of employment (even small employers), membership in a labor organization, professional licensure, certification or registration. See https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/18/217 for more information. If you move to another state, that state’s protections may differ.