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TO:Federal & State Elected Officials

Dear Elected Official:

I am writing to you to express my concern regarding the unethical use of genetic testing results by insurance companies to profile and discriminate against individuals in the issuance of health insurance coverage. In recent years we have seen great strides in genetic testing. It can be used as an early warning device for unsymptomatic persons found to be at risk for certain genetic conditions. However, persons interested in obtaining genetic testing have a difficult choice to make. The choice is between obtaining the benefits of early warning (if any genetic conditions are found) or of peace of mind (if none are found), on the one hand, and total or partial loss of or diminution in insurability, on the other hand. This is because insurance companies feel fully justified in discriminating against persons who are found to be genetically at risk for certain conditions, even if the person is unsymptomatic and has never sought treatment for the condition. Once the information is known the insurers, insurers use the information to denying health care coverage or to justify increasing premiums. It is very likely that without legislative protection, insurance companies could start requiring genetic testing as a screening process when evaluating individual or group policies.

In the United States, health care coverage is already cost prohibitive for many individuals and families. Any abuse of genetic testing results would further negatively impact premium or contribution amounts for certain individuals and their family members, conceivably continuing for several generations.

Insurance company access to genetic testing results needs to be prohibited.

This issue is important to me and many of your constituents. Please protect our health care coverage as it is critically important to me, my family and my friends. We depend on you to protect us from the possibility of abuse of genetic testing results.

Please acknowledge this message and let me know your position on this matter.

My personal message to you is:

Sincerely,

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