Privacy Fears Send DNA Tests Underground

biobricks writes "The New York Times is reporting that people who could benefit from genetic testing are too afraid their health insurance companies are going to raise their rates or deny them coverage to find out the health information contained in their own genes. There is a growing "genetic underground" where people pay for their own tests so they won't have to share the results with insurers, and beg doctors not to divulge their genetic status in medical records. A bill that would ban genetic discrimination by insurers and employers — and presumably make people feel safer about taking care of their health — is stalled in the Senate. We've discussed these types of personal DNA tests in the past."

Comments

Socialized Medicine, Mandatory DNA Testing

[Nova Express]

Just wait until we get nationalized health care under Hillary or Obama. I'm sure DNA testing will eventually be made mandatory under such a regime. If the person responsible for your health care is the State, then "privacy" in such a realm no longer exits.

Of course, testing is only the first step. Expect to see those with expensive, insurable genetic conditions simply denied care, much as those over 70 are denied health care for many ailments in the UK because it's not "cost effective."

Nationalized health care is, by definition, rationed health care. DNA testing will just be another way to make it more "fair" and "rational.'

Re:Making money versus helping people

[Score Whore]

So, you are working hard at your job, have no consumer debt, own your home, and have $50,000 in savings (much better than most Americans, but lets go for a best case scenario.) Then you get diagnosed with cancer. So you start undergoing treatment, but because of the toll on your health, you have to quit your job. Your EMTALA mandated coverage is $700 a month for you, but you elect to pay it because otherwise you will be unable to receive your treatment. It will take $12,800 of your savings, but that is your first priority.

EMTALA? No. COBRA. I pay whatever my company pays for the same coverage. We're talking in the area of $200/mo. I'm not even going to try to answer the rest of your story because it has no substantial basis in reality. Is it possible? Perhaps. But you made it up. I've never had a job with the health insurance terms as bad as you've stated.

My neighbor and I both have barns...

[xkr]

My neighbor and I each have a barn. I spent a pretty penny to make mine out of concrete, and I put in electric lights and have two fire extinguishers handy. My neighbor's barn is built out of wood and straw, and he still uses gas lamps. His hired help has drunken parties in the barn every weekend, and his son makes illegal fireworks in the barn for extra income.

Our health insurance company charges us the same premium, because it says we are the same age and live in the same county, so we have the same risk.

Well, last year my neighbor's barn burns down. The health insurance company wouldn't pay for a better barn, so he rebuilt it exactly the same as before, gas lamps, drunken parties and all.

I ran in my neighbor last week at a PTA meeting. I asked him if he was going to get any fire extinguishers. He said, naw, now that our health insurance premiums had tripled, he had no money left to pay for extinguishers. Beside, he said, the insurance company as going to pay for a new barn just the same whether he had extinguishers or not.

I called up my health insurance agent to see if I could get a better rate, seeing as I had extinguishers and concrete barn, and all. He said nope, and beside, the new law on barn privacy meant he wasn't even allowed to go out and inspect any barns any more.

I asked Hillary, and she said the solution was to force everybody to buy barn insurance, even if they didn't have a barn at all.

I'm thinkin' maybe I should just get out of the farmin' business altogether, but I was born with this here farm, so I'm not sure I can part with it that easily.