Genetic Testing Over the years researchers have dramatically increased their ability to detect diseases in genes. Genetic testing is their ability to find defective genes that cause diseases that may or already affect you. Over twenty million Americans have their genetic test results on record. However, this information is not private. Insurance companies have access to these records. They are denying coverage too not only individuals who have diseases, but to people who have a possibility of getting a disease. Insurers will either deny coverage or charge a higher premium rate to these individuals. Many people are being discriminated because of defective genes on their records, yet they show no signs of illness. Even people with diseases should be treated fairly in there insurance rates. An example is, A two-year old boy was suspected of having fragile X syndrome. A lab test confirmed this. When the news was passed on through and insurance claim form, the company canceled the coverage on the boy. Another situation occurred when a pregnant mother found out that her child tested positive for cystic fibrosis. Her insurers told her they would cover the payment for an abortion but not cover the baby under the family’s insurance policy if she continued the pregnancy. These two examples show how unjust the insurers are and how hard it is to keep your medical records private. The family of an ill person can also be denied coverage; for fear that the disease may run in the family. These tests do not even provide accurate results. A positive test may not be definite proof of a disease, and a negative result may not guarantee perfect health. Many people have to pay for the testing themselves to keep the results private. Others do not even get tested for fear of losing their coverage. I strongly feel that insurance companies should not have access to genetic records. Congress has stepped in to help e...
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