Empowering Seniors: The Rise of Genetic Counseling
No one knows what the future holds. However, scientific and medical advancements like genetic testing means it’s now possible to make a more informed guess. If you think you have a family history for certain types of hereditary conditions, you may want to consider talking with a genetic counselor about getting tested. Genetic counseling can help you get answers to your questions about the future.
What is Genetic Testing?
Genetic testing usually examines a blood sample or saliva to look for changes, called variants, in your chromosomes, genes or DNA. The result of a genetic test can confirm or exclude suspected genetic conditions or help determine your chance of developing genetic disorders like dementia or certain types of cancers.
What is Genetic Counseling?
Genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the genetic contributions to disease. During a consultation, a genetic counselor will:
- Ask about your family history
- Based on your personal medical history and family history, they’ll assess your risk of having a genetic disorder
- Discuss the potential impact of genetic testing on your current and future health, care, and financial planning
- Educate you about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources, and current research
- Identify the appropriate genetic test and collect a sample
- Once you receive your results, they’ll help you interpret them
- Provide counseling to help you make an informed decision
- Respect your individual beliefs, traditions, and feelings
- Serve as your health advocate
- Explore strategies for communicating information to others, especially family members who also may be at risk
- Provide written materials and referrals to support groups, other families with the same or similar condition and/or local, and national service agencies
What Do the Results of Genetic Testing Mean?
The interpretation of results from a genetic test varies. Interpretation depends on:
- Which test was ordered
- Whether or not you have symptoms
- What the diagnosis for someone who has symptoms
- Your family history
- There are three possible results of genetic testing: positive (a mutation was found on a gene known to cause a disease), negative (no mutation was found) and a variant of uncertain significance or VUS (change in a gene whose interpretation is unknown)
Is Genetic Counseling Covered by Insurance?
For people with a cancer diagnosis, Medicare policies for coverage of genetic testing for an inherited mutation vary based on where you live. Different Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) provide health insurance to people with Medicare in their region and their rules about who qualifies and what tests are covered.
Private Insurance
Most private health insurers cover genetic counseling and testing with low- or no out-of-pocket costs for people who meet certain personal or family cancer history criteria.
NOTE: Medicare, Medicaid, self-funded and short-term health plans are not required to abide by all the Affordable Carer Act (ACA) rules and may have different policies regarding coverage of genetic services.
Planning for an Uncertain Future
No one knows for certain what the future holds. However, if you want a plan for life’s what-ifs, Freedom Village of Bradenton is an award-winning Life Plan Community that offers the peace of mind of knowing you have access to a full continuum of high quality care including memory care and skilled nursing. To learn more, use our Community Assistant chat feature or contact us here.
