It may benefit individuals to know about the health issues they are likely to face in the future, but people may be denied the health coverage that they deserve if insurance agencies use genetic testing results against them. This past week in Congress I worked to bring an important bill to the House floor, H.R. 2457, the Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act. The need for legislation to prevent genetic discrimination grows urgent. It is time to stop the pharmaceutical and health insurance companies who have blocked legislation on genetic nondiscrimination in Congress for the past five years. Many Americans fear the results of their genetic tests could mean losing their jobs, high health insurance costs, or no health insurance at all.
Many people avoid genetic tests out of fear.
Early studies indicate that some companies are already genetically screening prospective employees and that genetic monitoring occurs in some large businesses.