The lack of comprehensive federal protection from genetic discrimination leaves all Americans vulnerable to the misuse of genetic information by employers and insurers.
Genetic discrimination occurs when genetic information is used to treat people differently.
Insurers might use this information to charge higher premiums or refuse people insurance coverage altogether. Employers might make decisions about who gets hired, fired, or promoted because they take genetic markers as indicators that an employee will become too sick to work or too costly to insure. Members of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives have the opportunity to stop genetic discrimination before it impacts America's mainstream. I hope Congress will pass legislation that prohibits health insurance companies from restricting enrollment or charging higher premiums based on predictive genetic information. Such legislation should also prevent employers from practicing genetic discrimination in hiring, compensation, and other personnel decisions.