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Learn about laws and legal protections that impact the hereditary cancer community. Learn how to file a grievance or complaint.

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Privacy, Policy & Legal Issues > Laws & Protections > Privacy & Nondiscrimination

Health privacy & nondiscrimination laws

The U.S. has a patchwork of national and state laws that help protect the privacy of most Americans' health and genetic information, and prevent certain types of discrimination based on that information. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are the primary federal laws that aim to protect your "private" health information.

These laws, together with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), ensure that your personal or family health history is not used to discriminate against you in health care and employment.