Prohibits the use of genetic information for purposes of determining eligibility, setting premium rates, or imposing preexisting condition exclusions for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Genetic Information and Insurance Protections

This bill would prevent insurance companies in Rhode Island from using a person's genetic information when making decisions about life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance. Specifically, insurers would not be allowed to use genetic data to decide whether someone qualifies for coverage, how much they are charged in premiums, or whether to exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. In other words, if you have a genetic marker that suggests a higher risk for a certain disease — even if you are currently healthy — an insurer could not use that information against you.

The bill affects anyone in Rhode Island who applies for or holds life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance. It also directly affects insurance companies operating in the state, which would need to change any policies or practices that currently rely on genetic testing results or family genetic history in their underwriting decisions. This could be especially relevant for people who have undergone genetic testing — such as tests for hereditary cancer risks or other inherited conditions — and are concerned that those results could make coverage harder to get or more expensive.

It is worth noting that federal law already provides some protections against genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment under a law called GINA (the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act), but those federal protections do not currently cover life, disability, or long-term care insurance. This Rhode Island bill would fill that gap at the state level. The bill has been referred to the House Corporations Committee and is currently being held for further study.