Little-noticed House Republican bill would let employers demand workers' genetic test results

[Igel]

68. Yeah, they make a lot of people money.

At the same time, some are tied to reductions in health or life insurance premiums. If you document that you take steps to stay healthy, you reduce risks and you're in a cheaper benefits pool.

For those, there's a built-in reward: Do things to document you're in a low-risk pool, pay less for insurance.

But what if you were doing all the right things at age 40 but knew you were at high risk for early-onset Alzheimer's because of your genetic history? Then at age 45 you're deep in medical bills, knew this, but let the record state you were in optimal health. Because it benefits you now to pay as little as possible, even though you get full benefits later. You're socializing risk and privatizing benefits.

I don't like wellness programs. The ones I've seen are pretty simplistic. "Oh, your weight says your BMI is way over the mark." But the person they're talking to bench presses 300 lbs and is ripped. Muscle = fat.

My BP is great, my heartrate is usually 60. But a couple of times a week the pulse soars to 140 and the BP is 115/95. See part of the picture, it's great. See the other part, not great. I know when I'm in atrial flutter (or atrial fibrillation) and could easily not get checked at those times. I could deceive my employer. I'd consider this to be fraud. Knowing one thing and hiding that information in order to get a discount based on a lie.