Why Congress is investigating the sale of 23andMe

Millions of people have taken at-home DNA tests to discover more about their ancestry, health risks, and family history. Services like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage make it easy—and tempting—to learn more about yourself with just a simple saliva sample.

But what many people don’t realize is that their genetic information could be used for more than just finding relatives. Your DNA could one day affect your insurance coverage, your eligibility for policies, or even how much you pay.

And with Congress now investigating the potential sale of 23andMe over concerns about what happens to customer DNA, these risks are becoming harder to ignore.

🧬 What Happens to Your DNA After You Test?

When you send your DNA to a company like 23andMe or AncestryDNA, you agree to let them:

• Analyze your genetic data,
• Compare it to others for relative matching,
• And in many cases, store it for future use (unless you specifically request deletion).

Some companies also allow users to download their raw DNA files and upload them to third-party sites like GEDmatch—a platform that has been used by police to solve cold cases, including the infamous Golden State Killer investigation.

While criminal justice stories make headlines, the bigger risk for most people lies elsewhere: insurance companies.

⚖️ How Genetic Data Could Affect Your Insurance

Right now, in the U.S., there are some protections:

• The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) prohibits health insurers from using your genetic information to deny coverage or raise your rates.
• Employers also cannot legally discriminate based on your genetic data.

But GINA has big gaps:

• It does not cover life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance.
• These insurers could legally ask for genetic information—and if they had access to it, they could deny coverage or charge you more based on your inherited health risks.

If your genetic profile shows a predisposition for conditions like Alzheimer’s, cancer, or heart disease, it could put you in a higher-risk category—without you even realizing how the information was used.

🚨 Why 23andMe’s Sale Raises New Alarms

Now, with 23andMe filing for bankruptcy and seeking a buyer, Congress has launched an investigation. Lawmakers are concerned about who might acquire the company—and what might happen to the genetic data of over 15 million customers.

Potential buyers could include private companies, biotech firms, or even foreign investors. Although 23andMe claims that all buyers must agree to comply with its existing privacy policies, many are skeptical about what that means in practice.

If a less privacy-focused buyer takes over, customers’ DNA data could potentially be shared, sold, or accessed in ways they never intended.

And while many users believe they’ve protected themselves by opting out of research studies, it’s unclear what safeguards exist if ownership of the company—and its treasure trove of genetic information—changes hands.

🧠 What You Should Know Before Submitting Your DNA

Before you send off your saliva, think about the long-term implications:

• Control: Once your DNA is submitted, you often lose full control over where and how it’s used.
• Family Impact: Even if you don’t upload your DNA, a relative’s DNA could reveal information about you.
• Insurance Future: Life insurers, long-term care insurers, and disability insurers may legally factor in genetic risks if they have access to your data.
• Deletion Requests: Some companies allow you to request the deletion of your raw DNA file and data, but you must take action manually.

🧬 The Bottom Line

Consumer DNA testing can offer incredible insights about your health and heritage—but it can also expose you to serious risks. In the wrong hands, your most personal information could cost you coverage or higher premiums.

With Congress investigating 23andMe’s future and growing scrutiny over genetic privacy, it’s more important than ever to read the fine print, protect your data, and think twice before handing over your DNA.

Your genes are forever—but your control over them might not be.