Can Someone Advise me About Genetic Testing??

Filia
Filia Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Dear Discussion Group Members:

My mother's oncologist referred my mother (78 years old) for "genetic counseling" this week. After a long meeting, the counselor urged genetic testing. My sister, who is partnering with me in managing care for my mom (who has Stage III Ovarian Cancer & is on a course of pre-operative chemo) strongly supports the idea of my mom getting Genetic Counseling, as there is a strong family history of cancer on my mom's side, and this almost certainly played a role in my mom's developments. However, on the basis of twenty years of experience dealing with insurance (not just for my mom's condition, but health problems my father has had, and that I have had, since 1984), I'm leery: what if a positive diagnosis resulted in my mother being denied insurance benefits on the grounds of her cancer constituting a "pre-existing condition?" I am extremely anxious about this, and so I am writing to ask: does anyone on this listserve know of cases of insurance companies using a genetic test diagnosis to deny benefits to subscribers??

I want to thank members of this listserve in advance for all their attention and kindness; I would be extremely grateful for any input any of you might have.

Sincerely yours,
Filia

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    Never heard of genetic testing being the cause of refusing insurance. Mostly this will inform you and your sister if you are to be aware of the gene being passed to you. I would ask the business office of the cancer treatment center that did the referral. Did medicare cover this? Saundra
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #3
    Filia, I believe a law was just passed here in the US that insurance companies cannot use this information against you. I had the genetic testing in March and some of my family members were leary of this because of the same reasons. My test came back negative for BRCA 1/BRCA 2 genes. My understanding is that medicare WILL pay for the genetic testing. If your mom turns out to be negative then that is good for you and your sister - if she is positive then you should get tested as well. I decided to go ahead with the testing because if I was positive then I would have gone on to have the prophylactic mastectomy as having a positive BRCA gene raises your risk of breast cancer exponentially and vice versa.

    Talk to the insurance people at the doctor's office, talk to Medicare, do some more research about genetic testing. In the long run it is beneficial for not only your mother, but for her children, her grandchildren, etc. I did it for myself as well as my son and his future children, my brothers & sisters and their children. I could not imagine not knowing after learning about it.

    Good luck and let us know what you decide to do. Take care.

    Kris
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
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