"I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the color of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science."
Posted on 05/01/2008 1:25:39 PM PDT by mnehring
In a nutshell, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prevents companies and employers from discriminating against you because of your genetic makeup. This bill is far to long and detailed to post all of the content, so here are some of the key points.
H.R.493 (a) No Discrimination in Group Premiums Based on Genetic Information- Section 702(b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1182(b)) is amended--
`(3) NO GROUP-BASED DISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF GENETIC INFORMATION- For purposes of this section, a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, may not adjust premium or contribution amounts for the group covered under such plan on the basis of genetic information.'.
`(1) LIMITATION ON REQUESTING OR REQUIRING GENETIC TESTING- A group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, shall not request or require an individual or a family member of such individual to undergo a genetic test.
`(1) IN GENERAL- A group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, shall not request, require, or purchase genetic information for underwriting purposes (as defined in section 733).
`(2) PROHIBITION ON COLLECTION OF GENETIC INFORMATION PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT- A group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, shall not request, require, or purchase genetic information with respect to any individual prior to such individual's enrollment under the plan or coverage in connection with such enrollment.
`(3) INCIDENTAL COLLECTION- If a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, obtains genetic information incidental to the requesting, requiring, or purchasing of other information concerning any individual, such request, requirement, or purchase shall not be considered a violation of paragraph (2) if such request, requirement, or purchase is not in violation of paragraph (1).
Color me surprised this passed but this isn’t the last we’re going to hear of such testing.
The one Nay was no other than Ron Paul.
"I belonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the color of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science."
Who?
I don’t know who he is, but RollCall reported his name. ;-)
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