Guide to genetic services for employers
Did you know that about one in five employers in Canada are offering genetic testing as part of their benefits package and one in three are interested in adding the service? More than one-quarter of Canadian plan members say they would use genetic testing for understanding personal disease risks.
Cancer, diabetes and mental illness are three examples of health conditions where DNA insights can support prevention, early detection or medication choices for employees. Of particular concern is cancer, the leading cause of death in Canada.
“The goal of genetic testing for hereditary cancer conditions or providing risk assessments for cancer, is to help identify individuals that could benefit from enhanced screening or alternative medical care, ideally, preventing cancer or detecting it at an earlier stage where it is much more treatable,” says Corissa Androich, Certified Genetic Counsellor and Senior Program Manager at TELUS Health.
In our guide to genetics as an employee benefit, we discuss the business case for employers, demystify different types of genetic tests, and review the importance of medical-grade testing as well as genetic counselling.