Many people may have not heard about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that Congress voted on last week. GINA would make it illegal to discriminate based on genetic information, it actually PASSED! This protection is critical, since testing for a specific genetic mutation commonly associated with breast cancer can lead to early detection and treatment...saving countless lives!
GINA prohibits discrimination by health insurers and employers on the basis of genetic information. So now, thanks to GINA, women who would otherwise have avoided genetic testing because they feared discrimination - thus being denied information that could help them manage their health or their family's health - will have protections under federal law.
Now the bill just needs approval from the House and the signature of the President - both of which are expected to happen quickly.
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LisaSDCA Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1304 |
Apr 26, 2008 06:24 pm
LisaSDCA wrote:
One more step closer! Lisa BRCA-1+ Dx 1/24/2007, IDC, 2cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 0/5 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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Dukemom2 Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 301 |
Apr 27, 2008 08:56 am, edited Apr 27, 2008 08:57 AM
by Dukemom2
Dukemom2 wrote:
There is a great article about this in the U.S. News and World Report: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2008/04/25/new-gina-law-would-stop-genetic-discrimination.html "You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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leaf Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2635 |
Apr 27, 2008 09:00 am
leaf wrote:
I'm so glad. Now they need to get rid of the pre-existing medical conditions clauses. If you're going through hell, keep going-Winston Churchill
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Dukemom2 Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 301 |
Apr 27, 2008 02:10 pm
Dukemom2 wrote:
leaf: Amen! "You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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swimangel72… Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 470 |
Apr 27, 2008 02:13 pm
swimangel72 wrote:
Fantastic news! Dx 2/5/2008, IDC, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, 0/7 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+ |
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BinVA Joined: May 2007 Posts: 1351 |
Apr 27, 2008 03:22 pm
BinVA wrote:
Yippee!! I'm with you Leaf!! |
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anaolivar Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 8 |
Apr 29, 2008 12:44 pm
anaolivar wrote:
That's very good news, my doctor suggested to do that long time ago, but my supervisor at work told me to be careful because of the health insurance later on in life, but with this is great that one day we can have the test and don't have to worry about insurance denying us........ |
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TrishE23 Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 145 |
May 1, 2008 04:18 pm
TrishE23 wrote:
I just heard this today from my sister! What great news. Dx 8/22/2006, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/3 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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Dukemom2 Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 301 |
May 3, 2008 06:17 am
Dukemom2 wrote:
Update in GINA: From Scientific American, May 1, 2008 "The House today passed a measure by a whopping 414-to-1 margin that would prohibit health insurers from canceling or denying coverage or hiking premiums based on a genetic predisposition to a specific disease. The legislation, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), also bars employers from using genetic information to hire, fire, promote or make any other employment-related decisions. "You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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