OT:DNA 23andme

[moneymaker]

Has anyone tried this service yet? I have a lot of flex money so figured I’d give it a try. Have not found any specific answers as to what 240 things that are measured. The family tree sounds interesting, ordered kits for everyone in the family, got a 20% discount on the additional kits. Just found the link for tests, https://www.23andme.com/health/all/ seems rather comprehensive.

[FlyerInHi]

Sounds interesting. How much did it cost?

[carlsbadworker]

I have done that many years ago and they still send me updates of new findings from time to time. But nothing really interesting in those findings…hopefully, it can help advancement of science.

[moneymaker]

$99 for 1st kit, then $80 each after that.

[njtosd]

Here’s my concern – let’s say you find out you have a (significant) genetic disease. Do you now have an obligation to disclose that fact when applying for health/life insurance? I have a friend whose mom has huntingtons disease … He doesn’t want to get tested for fear he’ll have to disclose it the results (he has a 50/50 chance). And even if you don’t have health life insurance issues – maybe there are some things you don’t want to know –

[bearishgurl]

[quote=njtosd]Here’s my concern – let’s say you find out you have a (significant) genetic disease. Do you now have an obligation to disclose that fact when applying for health/life insurance? I have a friend whose mom has huntingtons disease … He doesn’t want to get tested for fear he’ll have to disclose it the results (he has a 50/50 chance). And even if you don’t have health life insurance issues – maybe there are some things you don’t want to know -[/quote]

True, nj. But many people have active “level-term” or “decreasing-term” policies until age 70, issued while young and healthy. Who really cares if you don’t have life insurance anymore after age 70?

For these people and other people with family histories of certain cancers, I think it is prudent for a “healthy person” to find out if they have a propensity to develop certain cancers in order to be proactive for their health the future. Many times, this “proactivity” is the difference between life … and an untimely death (ex: the presence of breast or colon cancer genes).

I’m not sure the tests MM will sign up for are the most accurate way to approach this, however. The best way is to convince your sick 1st or 2nd degree relative to sign up to donate cancer tissue (which will be preserved in paraffin until their relatives are financially ready to conduct testing for the presence of very specific genes … or instability thereof). The sick relative can agree to do this prior to surgery or prior to death. The post-mortem tissue donation, taken within three hours of death, still leaves the body viewable from its casket, if that’s what the relative has chosen.

For a suspected inherited-cancer victim, this is the greatest give he/she can leave behind to their children and siblings.

Sorry to be morbid here, but this is the way it’s done.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=njtosd]Here’s my concern – let’s say you find out you have a (significant) genetic disease. Do you now have an obligation to disclose that fact when applying for health/life insurance? . . . [/quote]

The above emphasized quote is no longer true for health insurance applications, nj. It hasn’t been true since President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) into law on May 21, 2008.

http://www.genome.gov/27026050

In any case, now “pre-existing conditions” (as is the presence of an inherited disease) will no longer be used to underwrite a health insurance policy or plan under the HCRA.

This is only fair since none of us were able to “choose” our parents :=0 Discrimination against persons with an inherited disease (or the propensity for one) aligns right along with race/nationality discrimination.

[moneymaker]

BG I think insurance companies are allowed to discriminate, that is why they charge more for car insurance if you live in City heights than if you live in La Jolla or Solana beach.

[spdrun]

Life insurance, car insurance, sure.

Health insurance can only be rated on age, location, and smoking status after the ACA comes into force.

[CA renter]

[quote=njtosd]Here’s my concern – let’s say you find out you have a (significant) genetic disease. Do you now have an obligation to disclose that fact when applying for health/life insurance? I have a friend whose mom has huntingtons disease … He doesn’t want to get tested for fear he’ll have to disclose it the results (he has a 50/50 chance). And even if you don’t have health life insurance issues – maybe there are some things you don’t want to know -[/quote]

This is a very important point. In the past, insurance companies could use this information against you. Many doctors have warned their patients about the possibility of getting a “positive” result on a genetic test and how it could affect their ability to get insurance in the future. It sucks, but it’s reality.

Supposedly, Obamacare would largely eliminate this problem for health insurance, but life insurance could still be an issue. We also have to see how Obamacare works going forward, and if any changes will be made regarding pre-existing or genetic disorders.

[bearishgurl]

I would highly recommend that all parents if minor children sign up for a term-life insurance policy while still relatively young and healthy. Yes, you DO have to medically qualify for the policy but the premiums, and sometimes the level, are fixed for a set number of years.

http://www.afba.com/Insurance/Products/Life-Insurance/Level-Term.aspx

Up until age 50, I had a policy with the above organization which some of you may be eligible for.

http://www.afba.com/Insurance/Products/Life-Insurance/Product-Eligibility.aspx

Their term-life policies are underwritten by John Hancock. At age 50, I applied for one of their 20-year level-term policies that had recently become available.

http://www.afba.com/Insurance/Products/Life-Insurance/Select-Term.aspx

At the time of this second application, they put me through a LOT to qualify, however, and their policies are MUCH higher for smokers and slightly higher for former smokers and those who can’t pass a cholesterol test but are otherwise healthy.

http://www.afba.com/Insurance/Products/Life-Insurance/Select-Term/Medical-Requirements.aspx

In the end, I successfully rec’d a level-term policy for $250K coverage for just $47 mo (their ultra-preferred rate) until the age of 70.

If your children have already gone through or are nearly finished with college by the time you reach age 50, you will have less of a need to try to qualify for a term life policy at that age.

There are several other companies with similar term-life offerings but upon perusing AFBA’s site this morning, I noticed that my same policy with them costs ~$100 mo for an approved applicant today. So, rates seem to have gone up quite a bit since I applied. Level-term is the best kind of coverage to have, IMO, because it avoids rate hikes at all the five-year age marks.

And, of course, those who already own a whole-life policy can never have it taken away as long as they pay the premiums or own it outright. However, these policies don’t have near the coverage of a term life policy.

[UCGal]

We did it. For me – my family risk of cancer made me want to know. My husbands family leans torwards heart disease and stroke… As well as some family history of dementia. If we had the increased risks we wanted to know to address bucket list things sooner than later. For the most part we got good news… No increased risks.

For the biggies, you have to go through several locks to make sure you really wanted to know. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, colon cancer, breast cancer.

As far as the family and genetic stuff… My husband has connected with several 3rd cousins in the old country…. (He chose to respond to the anonomyzed inquiries… And was able to trace back the common ancestor.). That’s been cool and we’ll probably meet them when we next go across the pond. Less luck on my side.

It was worth the $99 to us.

[moneymaker]

I wonder if they have a Mensa data base, i.e. a smart gene (SNP), located? Perhaps the lowest Neanderthal rating? I must say I’m on the fence as to wether I am related to Mr. Neanderthal. It could be a good thing or a bad thing.

[UCGal]

Neanderthals had similar sized skulls/brain cavities – so they might have been smarter. They were tool users and had fire – so they were on par with homo sapian-sapian.

According to 23&me – modern humans of european descent have between 1 and 4 % dna from neanderthals – with the average person of european descent having 2.7%. I’m above average by a smidge… < insert grunt here > … perhaps I should pluck my eyebrows thinner to hide this. LOL

My husband likes to tease me that I’m more neanderthal than him. I always threaten to bop him over the head with a club.

[ocrenter]

The reviews on amazon seem mixed, but a lot of the bad reviews are related to the wait time for the result. That’s not a big deal to me. Afterall, this is DNA analysis, not a lipid panel!!!

The reviews that got my attention is the data seems to be much more eurocentric. Both in heritage analysis as well as their disease/health evaluation.

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