A Guide to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

A Guide to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

What Does GINA Mean?

This tool provides a functional outline of GINA’s protections to help clarify how the legislation impacts individuals and families. The resource includes:

  • a history of the legislation
  • hypothetical situations of genetic discrimination
  • key examples and definitions

The Coalition for Genetic Fairness encourages individuals to utilize the guide to answer general questions. Organizations are welcome to put the guide on their website, link to it, or adapt and customize it for their community.

This guide is intended to promote dialogue and discussion about GINA and does not include detailed analysis of the legislation. Additional information about GINA’s implementation and impact will be clarified as the regulations for GINA’s enforcement are drafted. This process has begun. For example, a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued to solicit comments from the public. More information can be found here.

NEW! View a print version of this resource!

GINA: An Overview

The History of GINA

How Does GINA Impact me?

  • Health Insurance
    • Protections in GINA
    • What about submitting claims to my health insurance company?
    • What does GINA not do?
  • Employment
    • Protections in GINA
    • Under what circumstances can an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or training program have access to my genetic information?
    • What efforts must be made to ensure my information is kept confidential?
    • What does GINA not do?
  • Examples of Genetic Discrimination

For Health Insurers

For Employers

For Clinicians or Healthcare Providers

For Researchers

For States

What’s Next?

Helpful Definitions

Additional Resources

Do you have a question about GINA that was not answered by this resource? Send your question to Andria Cornell, Advocacy and Health Policy Manager, at acornell@geneticalliance.org.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)
#80146
4301 Connecticut Avenue NW - Suite 404
Washington, DC 20008-2369
Tel: 202.966.5557 Fax: 202.966.8553
info@geneticalliance.org