Politics It Might Soon Be Legal for Employers to Force You Into a Genetic Test

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SlyPokerDog

SlyPokerDog

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Say your employer wants you to get a genetic test. You politely decline because you consider it a gross infringement of privacy. Well, too bad—your monthly health insurance payments just spiked 30%.

This could be the reality under HR 1313, the Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act, a House GOP-sponsored bill that would essentially allow companies with workplace wellness programs to demand your genetic information (or force you to pay a big penalty).

The legislation has now passed a House committee on a straight party line vote, reports STAT News, with all 22 Republicans unified in support against 17 Democratic detractors. The bill is expected to be latched on to a second Obamacare-related legislative effort that will be a followup to the main GOP health care plan now working its way through Congress.

http://fortune.com/2017/03/10/genetic-testing-workplace-wellness-bill/
 
I don't usually get too worked up about privacy issues - I don't much care if the NSA monitors my phone calls and emails. I'm just a number in that case, it's not personal. I'm not worried that the government is going to single me out for abuse.

But this is over the line.

barfo
 
Like 30% of American workers, I'm self-employed and as such can no longer afford health insurance under any plan known to man, whether it be Obamacare or I'm sure whatever the Republican establishment rams through.

It's all smoke and mirrors anyway, as health insurance cost is based on healthCARE cost, which nobody cares to address.

My last health plan was $400 mo. in 2009 and is now $1859 mo. Gave it up this year.

Find a way to roll it back to $400 mo. by cutting obscene profits where they occur.
 
MARIS61 said:
Like 30% of American workers, I'm self-employed and as such can no longer afford health insurance under any plan known to man, whether it be Obamacare or I'm sure whatever the Republican establishment rams through.

It's all smoke and mirrors anyway, as health insurance cost is based on healthCARE cost, which nobody cares to address.

My last health plan was $400 mo. in 2009 and is now $1859 mo. Gave it up this year.

Find a way to roll it back to $400 mo. by cutting obscene profits where they occur.
Click to expand...

Relax. Trump promised us something better than Obamacare. He's going to negotiate something awesome for all of us. He's great at negotiating.
 
Yeah, Like I said in another thread. NO WAY these people are in any ways capable of starting a new eugenics movement!

I'm not paying for your disability. How dare you be born that way!

(Makes German voice)

I'm not having you disseminating the purity of our species.
 
How is it yours is 1800+ a month, when I had to buy my own and it was only 250 a month (before rebates or whatever it's called)?

do you have like zero deductible and full coverage!?
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Relax. Trump promised us something better than Obamacare. He's going to negotiate something awesome for all of us. He's great at negotiating.
Click to expand...

True.

And he has made several threats recently targeting drug prices, but both sides of congress will oppose him.
 
julius said:
How is it yours is 1800+ a month, when I had to buy my own and it was only 250 a month (before rebates or whatever it's called)?

do you have like zero deductible and full coverage!?
Click to expand...

Correction: Coverage is for my wife and myself.

$6,500 deductible each, $13,000 family.

What Obamacare calls Standard Silver Option.

I'm also 62, so you have that to look forward to.
 
Big Brother has stopped watching and is here.
 
MARIS61 said:
Correction: Coverage is for my wife and myself.

$6,500 deductible each, $13,000 family.

What Obamacare calls Standard Silver Option.

I'm also 62, so you have that to look forward to.
Click to expand...

Well by the time I'm 62, we won't have a country anymore.
 
Genetics may be a fair way for insurance, you are what you are, if prone to more illness what is wrong with paying your fair share.
Better than paying for all the other deadbeats that are on the system!At least with GOP plan it is out for markup and review, much better than Pelosi saying we have to pass the plan to know what is in the plan.
Calm down and see what the end result is and what health insurance is offered be all the constant complaining.
Pay your own way in life and be responsible for yourself.

I myself do not believe we need a new entitlement program, Govt can help control medical expenses and pharmaceuticals. Help lower costs not coverage.
Should be able to decide what level of insurance you want to pay for.
Emergency rooms should not be free as emergency care.
 
Aly said:
Genetics may be a fair way for insurance
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this is an oxymoron......insurance costs are insane...I don't feel sorry for those poor insurance companies...what we need is TORT reform so doctors are no longer afraid to do their job without lawsuits over their heads.....as to emergency rooms....how's that going to work out when and airborne virus like SARS happens here.....can't pay...go cough outside? We may not all have economic equity but we breathe the same air and our kids attend the same schools..you want to be a first world country....you keep public health intact...if money means health...we're in a lot of trouble
 
Aly said:
Genetics may be a fair way for insurance, you are what you are, if prone to more illness what is wrong with paying your fair share.
Better than paying for all the other deadbeats that are on the system!At least with GOP plan it is out for markup and review, much better than Pelosi saying we have to pass the plan to know what is in the plan.
Calm down and see what the end result is and what health insurance is offered be all the constant complaining.
Pay your own way in life and be responsible for yourself.

I myself do not believe we need a new entitlement program, Govt can help control medical expenses and pharmaceuticals. Help lower costs not coverage.
Should be able to decide what level of insurance you want to pay for.
Emergency rooms should not be free as emergency care.
Click to expand...

My guess is that there will be a lot of people who will die at home from procedures they know they can't afford, a lot of unmedicated mentally ill hanging around government offices trying to get benefits they will never qualify for and a lot of drug addicts dead from a lack of care. When was the last time you met a schizo-affective person makin over 60k a year with great benefits who could pay his fair share?
 
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ripcityboy said:
My guess is that there will be a lot of dead people who will die at home from procedures they know they can't afford,
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There will be no dead people who will die.

That only happens in the Walking Dead.
 
Genetics is only one piece. There are many health factors. If employers want healthy workers offer health insurance, gym membership, cafeteria with healthy food. Vacation time. Sick leave. Flu shot. Walking or cycling club. Scent free cleaning products. Natural light.

And stay out of our DNA.
 
crandc said:
Genetics is only one piece. There are many health factors. If employers want healthy workers offer health insurance, gym membership, cafeteria with healthy food. Vacation time. Sick leave. Flu shot. Walking or cycling club. Scent free cleaning products. Natural light.

And stay out of our DNA.
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Not the employers job, employer creates job, employees work for employer if they want the job & benefits offered.

Please everyone remember to create jobs that are not Gov jobs the employer has to make a profit or
no insurance or health club or, or, or, what is enough??
Gov is only one that can not worry about profit. Just raise taxes

Yes some big companies offer lots of benefits and pay, not many and others are ripping of the Gov

Bottom line how about major medical only, insurance should not cover all the small stuff.
 
crandc said:
I do not accept that you get to decide what portion of my health is small stuff.
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As long as YOU pay for it, that is correct.

As a voting populace, we DO get to decide what portion of YOUR healthcare cost WE want to PAY for.

"Walking club"? Are you fucking serious?!!!
 
there's a reason every other commercial is a goddamn insurance commercial and it's because insurance is the most profitable commodity out there and they can afford to blow billions on adverts. fuck insurance companies it should have never been made law that we have to give these fuckers money.
 
This is being presented as for employee health. Nonsense. Practically everybody has a "genetic predisposition" to SOMETHING. That rarely determines our health. You may have a predisposition to heart attack, but if you exercise, don't smoke, maintain weight, that counts for far more.
Everyone in my family has high cholesterol, even my brother who has been a total vegetarian for 30 years. We never have heart attacks or strokes, three of my four grandparents made it past 80, we just have genetic high cholesterol that sits there and apparently does nothing.
I mentioned things employers could do for health; some are expensive but many cost little to nothing, far less than genetic testing.

The sponsor, Rep Virginia Foxx, is one of the most anti-science and bigoted House members and that's saying a lot.

There are zero safeguards. Even if you just apply for a job they can take your DNA and no restrictions on with whom the company shares the information or what they do with it.

Just another Tea Party corporate giveaway. As much to do with health as the Muslim ban had to do with security.
 
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