Health Insurers Are Using Your DNA Test Results

Episode 89 of Services Economy with Fexingo investigates a controversial frontier in insurance data: direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Over 30 million Americans have submitted saliva samples to companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com. Now health insurers are quietly lobbying to use that data for risk assessment and premium setting. Lucas and Luna break down the specific case of a 2024 actuarial study that found genetic markers for elevated breast cancer risk could predict higher claims costs, and how insurers are exploring 'voluntary' disclosure programs that mirror life insurance practices. They discuss the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) — which doesn't apply to long-term care, disability, or life insurance — and the ongoing legislative gap. Plus, why some startups are building consent-based genetic risk pools for people who want lower premiums by sharing their genomes. A data privacy episode that hits close to home. #HealthInsurance #GeneticTesting #DataPrivacy #23andMe #AncestryDNA #GINA #RiskAssessment #InsurancePremiums #DirectToConsumer #ActuarialScience #LongTermCareInsurance #DisabilityInsurance #LifeInsurance #Biobanking #ConsumerProtection #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Economics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo