The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

1067 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Effects of witnessing traumatic events essays

Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event can have life long affects on an individual. These experiences can range from working in the military, a natural disaster, near death experiences, accidents and abuse; everyone has a different reaction post events. “PTSD is characterized by a constellation of symptoms that reflect a prolonged adverse response to an extremely distressing event” (Orr, Metzger, Pitman, 2002, p. 272). Symptoms usually begin shortly after a traumatic event is experienced, but it is also possible for symptoms to develop over time or not at all. Additionally, symptoms will arise and subside with certain events in an individuals’ life, these events acting as triggers, which activate symptoms. According to the US Department …show more content…

Furthermore, GINA protection varies amongst individuals; certain requirements must be met in order for full compliance. Ultimately, the main purpose of GINA is to hinder health insurers or health plan officials from demanding genetic information from an individual or their family members in order to make decisions on certain coverage’s, rates or decisions. Moreover, when seeking jobs, this act will further prohibit employers from requiring genetic tests in order to make hiring, and firing decisions and or determining promotions. Although GINA encompasses the following protection features, it consists of limiting factors. Coverage’s that GINA does not provide protection against are life insurance, disability insurance and long-term care insurance, as well as any particular test or necessary treatment. Additionally, military members who are a part of Tricare, and veterans who receive their care through Veteran Administration are also not covered by GINA. Situations in which health insurers provide coverage to an individual, GINA does not prohibit the health insurer from determining eligibility or premium rates based on the manifestation of a disease or disorder. As far as employment-based coverage, provisions of GINA do not typically apply to employers with less than 15 employees and if a disorder or disease were to be evident, GINA does not protect against increased costs of coverage due to impeding disease. Lastly, implications of GINA do not prohibit health insurers or health plan administrators from using genetic testing as a base or determining factor of health insurance payments (Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). Groups that are not applicable for GINA protection are members of the United States military, veterans obtaining

Show More
Related

  • Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Pros and Cons

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most controversial topics in the United States in recent years has been the route which should be undertaken in overhauling the healthcare system for the millions of Americans who are currently uninsured. It is important to note that the goal of the Affordable Care Act is to make healthcare affordable; it provides low-cost, government-subsidized insurance options through the State Health Insurance Marketplace (Amadeo 1). Our current president, Barack Obama, made it one of his goals to bring healthcare to all Americans through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. This plan, which has been termed “Obamacare”, has come under scrutiny from many Americans, but has also received a large amount of support in turn for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include a decrease in insurance discrimination on the basis of health or gender and affordable healthcare coverage for the millions of uninsured. The opposition to this act has cited increased costs and debt accumulation, a reduction in employer healthcare coverage options, as well as a penalization of those already using private healthcare insurance.

    Read More

  • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) supports workers, who have lost the right to their health benefits, so that they can keep their employer-sponsored group health plan in force. The need for continued insurance coverage is necessary when coverage is interrupted due to the loss of a job, reduced working hours, death of the insured employee, divorce or even other circumstances that affect a person’s life. A person who qualifies for the group health benefit is usually expected to pay for that premium. The employer may increase the premium up to 102 percent, which is allowed under the provisions of COBRA. The law applies to all employer-sponsored group plans who have 20 and above employees and urges them to ensure an extension of the health coverage that is temporary (Magill, 2009).

    Read More

  • America´s Hostile Response to the Vietnam War and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

    1641 Words  | 4 Pages

    It is important to understand when discussing this topic what exactly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is, and how one obtains it. When someone has PTSD, their sense of fear and stress are tampered with; even when not in danger, the person with the disorder may feel as though they are. It is as if the victims are suffering from delayed trauma. Several risk factors can lead to this: experiences with dangerous events/traumas, history of mental illness, physical pain, witnessing the injuries/deaths of others, feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear, little to no support after the trigger event, experiencing extra stress after the event...

    Read More

  • Organizational Systems And Quality Leadership

    1835 Words  | 4 Pages

    The intent is to create a healthcare system where health insurance coverage is available to everyone. Coverage is through a joint effort of the government, employers, and individuals. A disparity in coverage often occurs within vulnerable populations. This includes children, unemployed and retired individuals, along with their families. They are more likely to have limited access to healthcare while having an increased need for medical services.

    Read More

  • PTSD In The Movie Brothers

    1513 Words  | 4 Pages

    Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that develops after exposure to an event that is perceived to be life threatening or pose serious bodily injury to self or others (Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011). According

    Read More

  • HMO Regulation

    1302 Words  | 3 Pages

    Another downfall to HMO coverage is selective-contracting. This is a process where hospitals deny treatment to patients because their...

    Read More

  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after a traumatic event (Riley). A more in depth definition of the disorder is given by Doctor’s Nancy Piotrowski and Lillian Range, “A maladaptive condition resulting from exposure to events beyond the realm of normal human experience and characterized by persistent difficulties involving emotional numbing, intense fear, helplessness, horror, re-experiencing of trauma, avoidance, and arousal.” People who suffer from this disease have been a part of or seen an upsetting event that haunts them after the event, and sometimes the rest of their lives. There are nicknames for this disorder such as “shell shock”, “combat neurosis”, and “battle fatigue” (Piotrowski and Range). “Battle fatigue” and “combat neurosis” refer to soldiers who have been overseas and seen disturbing scenes that cause them anxiety they will continue to have when they remember their time spent in war. It is common for a lot of soldiers to be diagnosed with PTSD when returning from battle. Throughout the history of wars American soldiers have been involved in, each war had a different nickname for what is now PTSD (Pitman et al. 769). At first, PTSD was recognized and diagnosed as a personality disorder until after the Vietnam Veterans brought more attention to the disorder, and in 1980 it became a recognized anxiety disorder (Piotrowski and Range). There is not one lone cause of PTSD, and symptoms can vary from hallucinations to detachment of friends and family, making a diagnosis more difficult than normal. To treat and in hopes to prevent those who have this disorder, the doctor may suggest different types of therapy and also prescribe medication to help subside the sympt...

    Read More

  • Cracking Your Genetic Code: A Review of Genetic Testing

    1554 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Gattaca, the plot focuses on the ethics, the risks, and the emotional impact of genetic testing in the nearby future. The film was released in the 90s; yet in the present, the film does not give the impression of science fiction. Today, genetic testing is prevalent in many aspects of the scientific community. This paper will describe genetic testing, its purpose, diagnostic techniques that use genetic testing, relating Huntington’s disease to genetic testing, and the pros and cons of genetic testing.

    Read More

  • The Effects of PTSD on Families

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    PTSD is defined as mental health disorder triggered by a terrifying event (Mayoclinic). This ordeal could be the result of some sort of physical harm or threat to the individual, family members, friends or even strangers. (NIMH) While PTSD is typically associated with someone who has served in the military, it can affect more than just that genre of individuals. It could affect rape victims, victims in a terrorist or natural disaster incident, nurses, doctors, and police and fire personnel and bystanders. PTSD can manifest itself in many forms. The primary signs and symptoms of PTSD include but are not limited to re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts), avoidance of places, situations, or events that may cause those memories to resurface, and hyperarousal symptoms (easily startled, feeling tense or on edge) (NIMH). Other symptoms may include not having positive or loving feelings toward other people, staying away from relationships, may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them, may think the world is completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted.

    Read More

  • Causes and Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    PTSD is a debilitating mental illness that occurs when someone is exposed to a traumatic, dangerous, frightening, or a possibly life-threating occurrence. “It is an anxiety disorder that can interfere with your relationships, your work, and your social life.” (Muscari, pp. 3-7) Trauma affects everyone in different ways. Everyone feels wide ranges of emotions after going through or witnessing a traumatic event, fear, sadness and depression, it can cause changes in your everyday life as in your sleep and eating patterns. Some people experience reoccurring thoughts and nightmares about the event.

    Read More

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Veterans

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Any time there is a traumatic event, physical danger, or threat or personal danger, this disorder is able to appear in ones' life (USA Today Magazine). "A key factor is the persons' response to this event, whether it happens to them or they are witnesses to feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror" (USA Today Magazine). "To be classified as PTSD the symptoms must last longer than one month, and usually appear within six months to a year after the event" (USA Today Magazine). Jim Dwyer describes Traumatic memories as "frozen in time, waiting to thaw" (Block, Norris). "PTSD has become a common condition among the armed forces as well as the police, and it has spread throughout society" (Fitzpatrick). "After Vietnam, PTSD appeared and was rapidly taken over from the veterans" (Fitzpatrick).

    Read More

  • Reinventing Healthcare Reflection

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    Then came the question, should the employer be the one responsible for providing health insurance. While everyone on the panel could agree that our health care system in 2008 was broken, most seemed opposed to the alternative solution of universal healthcare. There is an incentive to the company to offer health insurance to a human being that may receive the opportunity to receive health insurance from another company. However, taking health insurance responsibility away from the employer and making it the government’s responsibility would increase availability and possibly eliminate freedom of

    Read More

  • The Ethical Issues of Genetic Testing

    1419 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Human Genome Project is the largest scientific endeavor undertaken since the Manhattan Project, and, as with the Manhattan Project, the completion of the Human Genome Project has brought to surface many moral and ethical issues concerning the use of the knowledge gained from the project. Although genetic tests for certain diseases have been available for 15 years (Ridley, 1999), the completion of the Human Genome Project will certainly lead to an exponential increase in the number of genetic tests available. Therefore, before genetic testing becomes a routine part of a visit to a doctor's office, the two main questions at the heart of the controversy surrounding genetic testing must be addressed: When should genetic testing be used? And who should have access to the results of genetic tests? As I intend to show, genetic tests should only be used for treatable diseases, and individuals should have the freedom to decide who has access to their test results.

    Read More

  • Strengths and Weaknesses of the US Health System

    2193 Words  | 5 Pages

    (c) a requirement that firms with over 50 employees offer coverage or pay a penalty, (d) a major expansion of Medicaid, and (d) regulating health insurers by requiring that they provide and maintain coverage to all applicants and not charge more for those with a history of illness, as well as requiring community rating, guaranteed issue, non-discrimination for pre-existing conditions, and conforming to a spec...

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Childhood Trauma On Health And Physical Health

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is common to have experienced a trauma at some point in our lives. These traumas can affect our mental health and a series of problems can arise if left untreated. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is most likely to occur after the traumatic event. Some of the common symptoms with PTSD can be nightmares, trouble sleeping, panic attacks, flashbacks, depression, poor concertation, emotional numbness, or alcohol and drug dependencies. Depression can also set in and this brings on different feelings of hopelessness and

    Read More

More about The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)

Open Document