GINA – Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) beefs up provisions contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Employee Retirement Income Security Act that prohibit group health plans from discriminating against individuals based on genetic information.  Specifically, group health plans and health insurance issuers offering health coverage in connection with such a plan are prohibited from requiring genetic testing, increasing group premiums or denying enrollment based on genetic information, acquiring such information for underwriting purposes or with respect to any individual prior to enrollment and in connection with enrollment, and disclosing the information for underwriting purposes.