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this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2024
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If I am an insurance company, and I have data that says you are carrying a gene that is correlated with colon cancer, I can either raise the fuck out of your rates because youre a risky client who might cost me a lot of money in colon cancer treatments, or when you do get colon cancer I could refuse to cover it because I have a contract clause you didnt read that says if youre genetically correlated thats functionally a pre-existing condition and thus isnt a part of your coverage.
If I am a med company, and I know what your genes correlate with known treatable genetic diseases that become fatal or more serious to people like you with those genes, I can raise the price of your medication. You have to pay, because you will die if you dont, so I can ask for any price.
If I am a texas politician, who is already threatening hospitals across the nation illegally for your private medical data, I am salivating trying to get your dna. Correlate any gene, or suite of genes, with a population of people you do not like, and you can target them through this. "Prove" a genetic superiority to defend and promote eugenic ideals, while targeting your racial scapegoat at a genetic level. Look like one race? Well your blood says youre not pure, so youre next too.
These are only the obvious problems.
You think an insurance company would leave money on the table if they thought your DNA could save them a few bucks? They'd either offer discounts to people for submitting DNA samples or require DNA samples as a condition of coverage.
Med companies don't need your DNA to know that they can charge more life-saving medication. They just need you to know that you have a particular condition and then make sure you know about their medication. If the disease in question is fatal, like your example, it actually seems like a win for the person in question that there's a cure for their condition.
Ah yes, the Texas politician who is going to let the lack of DNA data stand in the way of his eugenic designs. Okay. Totally realistic.
The insurance company doesnt want or need to give you discounts. They are buying this data from companies like 23andme, after the professionals have indexed and prorated it. Telling the customer risks scandal, and buying from youmeans they need to process it in house. This back door pre analyzed data sharing keeps you in the dark, and your money in their pocket.
Med companies do not use this to develop the medication, they use it to change the price of existing meds based on your need. Diseases and disorders are not equally lethal. They are buying this data to get the information on how badly you need the drug, and alter the price accordingly.
They arent going to let anything stand in the way of their plans, they are already illegally collecting this information. More data makes this easier for them.