The bill prohibits insurers from requiring genetic testing for underwriting insurance.
SACRAMENTO, CA – On Wednesday, the Safeguarding Genetic Information Act (AB 1798), authored by Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, was signed into California law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
This bill protects access to life and non-health disability insurance by banning the use of genetic testing for underwriting purposes and adds privacy protections around sensitive, personal information. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
“If we agree that people should not pay more or be denied coverage because of who they are, then we should also agree they should not be penalized for what’s written in their DNA,” said Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson. “No one should have to choose between their physical health and their financial future. I am incredibly proud to see AB 1798 to the finish line.”
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, a staunch supporter of the legislation, said AB 1798 gives autonomy back to the individual.
“Genetic testing should empower people to take charge of their health, not give insurance companies a new tool to discriminate. With the signing of the Safeguarding Genetic Information Act, California is drawing a clear line: Your medical data belongs to you, not to life and disability insurers,” said California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “By stopping the unfair use of genetic data for underwriting, we are ensuring that life-saving preventive care and early detection never come with the penalty of higher costs or denied coverage.”
The ALS Association was a leading advocate for AB 1798. The organization said for people and families living with ALS, this law means they can still use genetic information to guide their medical care without worrying it will lead to discrimination against them.
“For too long, people have faced an impossible choice: get the genetic information that could help them understand their disease and make informed decisions about their health or worry about what that information could mean for their financial future,” said Melanie Lendnal, J.D., Executive Vice President and Chief of Advocacy for the ALS Association, who also testified in support of the legislation. “With AB 1798 becoming law in California, that equation is changing. This is what effective advocacy looks like: bringing patients to the table, building unlikely coalitions, doing the hard policy work, and staying at it when the opposition is powerful. We are proud to have helped lead this effort and we are not done. We hope California’s action will inspire policymakers across the country to ensure that genetic information can be used to improve lives, not limit opportunities.”
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