When thinking about having genetic testing, patients and research participants may worry about genetic discrimination and privacy. Fortunately, genetic discrimination has not been as large of a problem as first anticipated.

Under the 2008 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), individuals are protected from genetic discrimination related to health insurance and employment. This protection does not cover long-term care, disability, or life insurance, and does not apply to active-duty military or employers with less than 15 employees. State laws may offer additional protection not contained in GINA. Other laws may apply to privacy protection of an individual’s genetic information, another potential area of concern.

GINA - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

For more patient information on these topics please visit:

• Genome.gov - Genetic Discrimination

• GINAhelp.org - What is GINA?

• Genome.gov - Privacy in Genomics