A Preventive Healthcare Model Powered by Genomics

Every person is unique in their needs, based on their personal/family history. The cost of genomic testing therefore varies depending on the scope of testing. Different options and tiers of testing will be discussed and a joint decision will be made with you in the initial consultation, which can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. If testing proceeds, a follow-up consultation will take place in about 3 months whereby genomic testing reports are discussed with you and detailed management plan is developed tailored to your unique circumstance and requirements. Our friendly staff will discuss the cost of consultations with you before an appointment is scheduled.

There is limited Medicare coverage for certain diagnostic genomic testing (genomic testing undertaken by someone who already exhibits symptoms of a suspected genetic disorder) and limited reproductive carrier screening. The majority of tests included in preventive genomics testing is not covered by either Medicare or private health insurance. Your genomics health professional will discuss this further in the initial consultation.

The doctor’s clinic consultations are claimable through Medicare if there is a valid referral, although the claims are usually capped to certain amounts.

Genomic testing does not impact health insurance. Certain genomic testing may impact risk-based insurance, such as life insurance. Currently, genomic testing for risk prediction undertaken pre-symptomatically (such as in the preventive genomics context) would impact new life insurance policy underwriting up to certain limits based on the current Moratorium in place. This is however rapidly changing, as the Australian government has announced in September 2024 that it will change the law, so that life insurance companies will no longer be able to use genetic/genomic test results to refuse or increase life insurance premiums. This will come into effect when it is written into legislation in the near future. The MGA genetics health professional will provide most up-to-date information in a clinic consultation.

MGA prides in the responsible use of genomics that is evidence-based and tailored to each individual. Through two-way clinical interactions and comprehensive assessment, each client receives the most up-to-date information about genomic testing, appropriate recommendations based on their needs, as well as a comprehensive care plan based on clinical guidelines. There are two-way communications to ensure that all questions and concerns are answered and addressed.

Just as genomics is rapidly evolving, the service and range of testing will also evolve accordingly at MGA to keep abreast with developments in genomic technologies.

A comprehensive clinical assessment is undertaken by certified genetics professionals in a clinic consultation to determine the best testing strategy, which may include a combination of diagnostic and, if wished, preventive, genomic tests. As not every symptom or any positive family history would be related, our experienced geneticist will make a clinical judgement, based on comprehensive assessment, and provide explanations on the recommended tests on the day.

Like any laboratory testing, genomic testing also has limitations. Genomic testing, if performed in an appropriately accredited laboratory, is as accurate as its inherent limitations allow, at the time of testing.

The inherent limitations are due to the dynamic nature of genomic variant interpretation which may change with time, as well as its technical and analytical limitations which may improve over time. As a result, there may be a small chance that a genetic cause/risk or reproductive risk was not identified at the time of testing. As scientists continue to discover new genes and as variant interpretation changes with increasing genetic knowledge, your genome can be re-analysed from time to time with improved accuracy.