The Senate is likely to pass a bill that would make use of genetics tests to deny insurance coverage, raise insurance premiums or making hiring and other employment decisions illegal. Supporters of the bill believe that use of existing gene tests to predict risk of disease has been limited due to fears that individuals would be discriminated against after receiving the results. A group of health insurers have stated that the restrictions could actually hurt consumers "by limiting the ability of insurers to appropriately and fairly set premiums."
See "Senate close to passing bill banning genetic discrimination", Aaron Zitner, Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2003