Employment Family
Questions may arise about how genetic
test results could affect your job, and
whether current or prospective employers
can or should know this information.
You don’t have to disclose your (or your
family members’) genetic status, and,
in the U.S., the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) makes it
illegal for an employer to use your genetic
data to make work-related decisions (e.g.,
hiring, promotion or termination). Getting genetic testing may mean
learning more not only about yourself,
but also about your family. If you find
out you have a genetic mutation that
increases Parkinson’s risk, for example,
you may wonder about your children’s or
siblings’ risk as well. A genetic counselor
can discuss these scenarios and help you
create a plan to communicate results to
your family, if you decide you want to
do so.
However, GINA does have a few
limitations — it does not apply to
employees of the military, federal
government or companies with fewer
than 15 employees. And GINA has
exceptions, such as instances in which
an employer is legally allowed to know a
person’s genetic information. Still, even if
they know your status, employers cannot
use the information to discriminate. For
more on GINA and how it may apply
to you, visit ginahelp.org and talk with
a genetic counselor. (See “What Is a
Genetic Counselor?” pg. 37.) Cost
Insurance
GINA also applies to the majority of
health care insurers — they cannot
raise premiums or deny coverage, for
example, based on your or your family
members’ genetic status. However, the
law does not extend to long-term care,
life or disability insurances. You may
want to think about whether you might
need these types of coverage before
proceeding with genetic testing.
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The cost of genetic testing can range
from hundreds to sometimes thousands
of dollars depending on how it is
performed, how detailed it is and what
type of insurance coverage you have.
Genetic testing can be done through
research studies, online services or your
doctor’s office. When testing is part
of research, there usually is no cost to
you. Some online services offer basic
testing for just over a hundred dollars.
If recommended by your physician, at
least part of the cost may fall to you, so
you’ll want to check with your insurance
company ahead of time. Health insurance
may cover associated genetic counseling,
but you could be responsible for a portion
of those costs as well.
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