New Health Profile Is Available

Feb. 26, 2010

An updated Health Profile assessment tool now is available. The changes include a new design.

You still have access to your reports generated before Dec. 30, 2009.

The profile is a wellness tool that gives you information about your health status and risk of certain diseases, with suggestions on how to improve your overall health.

Changes in Questionnaire

In 2010, Group Health is removing questions about family medical history from the profile questionnaire in order to comply with a new federal law. Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), questions about family medical history can't be included in a health assessment if a health plan company or employer offers incentives to encourage people to fill out the questionnaire.

Because some employers offer discounts or other incentives to their Group Health-covered employees — usually as part of company wellness programs — we must remove family medical history questions in the profile questionnaire.

Privacy Is Always Protected

The law's intent is to ensure that a person can't be discriminated against in getting health coverage because of family history and other genetic information. Group Health supports privacy protection measures. Our Health Profile already is protected by privacy laws and Group Health policies. Employers have never been able to see an individual's profile report. While your Group Health doctor can view your profile information as part of your medical record, your report can't be accessed by our health plan staff.

Talk With Your Doctor

Although you won't be asked about your family history in the new Health Profile questionnaire, the report will tell you what specific disease risks may be higher if you have relatives with that condition or disease. As always, you are encouraged to discuss family history with your doctor.

Your family history information will continue to be part of your Group Health medical record. That information may be from your pre-2010 Health Profile reports, other health questionnaires you filled out before an office visit, or from discussions with your Group Health doctor.