State senators in Florida are set to consider a bill that would prohibit life insurance companies from using genetic information in their coverage decisions, Florida Politics reports.
At the federal level, the US Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 bars health insurers and employers from using genetic information in coverage or employment decisions. But that prohibition does not extend to life insurers.
According to FlaPol, the Florida Senate rules committee has advanced this bill aimed at life insurers out to the Senate floor. The committee approved the state House of Representatives version of the bill, it notes, adding that the bill passed the House in an 88-to-26 vote.
However, FlaPol reports that some lawmakers are uncomfortable with a provision in the bill that would prevent individuals from sharing their genetic data with life insurance companies when they think it would be advantageous for them to do so.