Cost of Genetic Testing
People considering BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing may want to confirm their insurance coverage for genetic counseling and testing.
The Affordable Care Act considers genetic counseling and BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing a covered preventive service for women who have not already been diagnosed with a cancer related to a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 and who meet the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for testing.
Medicare covers BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing for women who have signs and symptoms of breast, ovarian, or other cancers that are related to mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 but not for unaffected women. Some of the genetic testing companies that offer testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations may offer testing at no charge to patients who lack insurance and meet specific financial and medical criteria.
Sources:
- Courtesy of National Cancer Institute: BRCA Mutations: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet#how-much-does-having-a-brca1-or-brca2-gene-mutation-increase-a-womans-risk-of-breast-and-ovarian-cancer, accessed on August 14th, 2020.
Additional Resources:
- Will health insurance cover the costs of genetic testing, National Institute of Health https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/testing/insurancecoverage
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