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HF 3701

Long-term care, life, and disability insurers prohibited from using genetic information for certain purposes.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Elkins and 8 co-sponsors

Minnesota bill prohibits long-term care, life, and disability insurers from using genetic information in underwriting decisions to prevent discrimination against individuals with genetic disease risks.

Author added Jones
#consumerprotection #insurance
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 3701

Legislative bill overview

HF 3701 prohibits long-term care, life, and disability insurers in Minnesota from using genetic information to make underwriting decisions, set premiums, or determine eligibility for coverage. The bill restricts insurers' access to genetic test results and family medical history that could be used to discriminate against individuals based on genetic predisposition to disease.

Why is this important

Genetic discrimination in insurance could price out or exclude individuals from essential coverage based on inherited risk factors they cannot control. Without such protections, people with genetic markers for conditions like Huntington's disease, BRCA mutations, or hereditary cancers could face prohibitively high premiums or denial of coverage, even if they never develop the condition. This aligns Minnesota with federal protections under GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act) but extends them specifically to long-term care and disability insurance, which GINA currently does not fully cover.

Potential points of contention

  • Insurer risk assessment concerns: The insurance industry may argue that excluding genetic information limits their ability to accurately assess risk and could lead to adverse selection, where those with known genetic risks disproportionately purchase coverage, raising costs for others.
  • Definitional scope: Ambiguity about what constitutes "genetic information" could create compliance challenges—questions about whether family medical history, ancestry data, or pharmacogenetic testing fall under the restriction.
  • Market impact on availability: Insurers might respond by raising premiums broadly, reducing coverage offerings in Minnesota, or exiting the market rather than accepting higher-risk pools without genetic underwriting tools.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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