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40-2259. Genetic screening or testing; prohibiting the use of; exceptions; restrictions. (a) As used in this section, "genetic screening or testing" means a laboratory test of a person's genes or chromosomes for abnormalities, defects or deficiencies, including carrier status, that are linked to physical or mental disorders or impairments, or that indicate a susceptibility to illness, disease or other disorders, whether physical or mental, which test is a direct test for abnormalities, defects or deficiencies, and not an indirect manifestation of genetic disorders.

(b) An insurance company, health maintenance organization, nonprofit medical and hospital, dental, optometric or pharmacy corporation, or a group subject to K.S.A. 12-2616 et seq., and amendments thereto, offering group policies and certificates of coverage or individual policies providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits, shall not:

(1) Require or request directly or indirectly any individual or a member of the individual's family to obtain a genetic test;

(2) require or request directly or indirectly any individual to reveal whether the individual or a member of the individual's family has obtained a genetic test or the results of the test, if obtained by the individual or a member of the individual's family;

(3) condition the provision of insurance coverage or health care benefits on whether an individual or a member of the individual's family has obtained a genetic test or the results of the test, if obtained by the individual or a member of the individual's family;

(4) consider in the determination of rates or any other aspect of insurance coverage or health care benefits provided to an individual whether an individual or a member of the individual's family has obtained a genetic test or the results of the test, if obtained by the individual or a member of the individual's family;

(5) require any individual, as a condition of enrollment or continued enrollment, to pay a premium or contribution which is greater than such premium or contribution for a similarly situated individual on the basis of whether the individual or a member of the individual's family has obtained a genetic test or the results of such test; or

(6) adjust premium or contribution amounts on the basis of whether the individual or a member of the individual's family has obtained a genetic test or the result of such test.

(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to an insurer writing life insurance, disability income insurance or long-term care insurance coverage.

(d) An insurer writing life insurance, disability income insurance or long-term care insurance coverage that obtains information under paragraphs (1) or (2) of subsection (b), shall not:

(1) Use the information contrary to paragraphs (3) or (4) of subsection (b) in writing a type of insurance coverage other than life for the individual or a member of the individual's family; or

(2) provide for rates or any other aspect of coverage that is not reasonably related to the risk involved.

History: L. 1997, ch. 190, § 14; L. 2010, ch. 108, § 4; July 1.