Privacy Law Library

Genetic Information in Insurance (genetic discrimination and DTC test data)

CT Insurance Genetic Privacy

Genetic · Health · Financial

Bars health insurers from refusing, limiting or pricing coverage based on genetic information, and bars life, disability, long-term care and similar insurers from using direct-to-consumer genetic test results without the tested person's informed written consent or requiring genetic testing as a condition of coverage.

Where
Connecticut
Citation
Conn. Gen. Stat. 38a-816(20); 38a-833
Status
In force
Enforced by
Connecticut Insurance Commissioner (Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act)
People can sue
No
Penalties
Violations of 38a-816 are unfair insurance practices enforceable by the Insurance Commissioner under CUIPA (38a-815 et seq.); specific penalty amounts were not reviewed.
Applies to
  • Health insurers, hospital service corporations, health care centers and fraternal benefit societies offering specified health coverage (38a-816(20))
  • Insurers, health care centers and fraternal benefit societies issuing annuities or life, disability, long-term care, accident, specified disease, hospital indemnity or credit insurance (38a-833)

Practices it requires

  • Health insurers may not refuse, limit or charge more for coverage because of genetic information, and a genetic predisposition is not a preexisting condition without a diagnosis.Conn. Gen. Stat. 38a-816(20)
  • Life, disability, long-term care and similar insurers may not request, require, purchase or use direct-to-consumer genetic testing information without the tested individual's informed written consent.Conn. Gen. Stat. 38a-833(1)
  • Do not condition rates or coverage on a requirement to undergo genetic testing or on family members' genetic test results not in the individual's medical record.Conn. Gen. Stat. 38a-833(2)

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: Enactment dates (38a-833 from P.A. 21-137) and CUIPA penalty ranges not confirmed.

Research reference, not legal advice.