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Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by lostcolony on Tuesday December 17, 2019 @05:24PM (#21819581)
Currently it is. That can change.
Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by dekhn on Tuesday December 17, 2019 @06:08PM (#21819967)
Sure, but it's a law, and any change like that would be major national news, debated extensively in Congress, and then, if turned into a new law, would roll out over years.

And it's unlikely it would be passed as a law, because (currently) most people favor privacy for their genomic information.

Personally, I can see the value in allowing health insurance to access genomic information. Assuming it truly correlates with health outcomes, the data would be valuable in accurately personalizing contracts. I believe other indicators are already used.

Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by zepto on Tuesday December 17, 2019 @06:25PM (#21820128)
Like net neutrality?

There can easily be a hole punched in the law with some weasel words in an omnibus bill that nobody pays attention to until 5 years later and we are hearing about the problems in a 60 minutes exclusive.

Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by LanceH on Tuesday December 17, 2019 @08:06PM (#21820812)
So if things were different, they would be different.
Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by zepto on Tuesday December 17, 2019 @11:30PM (#21821815)
What value are you adding with this meaningless comment?

I was refuting the parent’s point:

“any change like that would be major national news, debated extensively in Congress, and then, if turned into a new law, would roll out over years.

Which is manifestly false for the reasons I outlined.

Are you suggesting otherwise?

Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by dekhn on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @10:46AM (#21826000)
The problem is you gave a single anecdotal example, and there was a bunch of attention paid at the time anyway and lots of people complained.

You can't insert major changes to health laws in omnibus spending bills.

Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by zepto on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @10:58AM (#21826146)
There is nothing anecdotal about it, since it is a fact.

Almost nobody complained, there was no meaningful mainstream coverage, and most people don’t even know there was a change even now.

And you don’t need to insert a major change to punch a hole in the law. A small exception will do it.

Re:23andMe to share customer gene data with GlaxoSmithKline ... by zepto on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @11:01AM (#21826165)
Personalized contracts means no more spreading of risk, which completely negates the value of insurance companies.