FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about how CardioGenes works.
CardioGenes
Your questions, answered
Is CardioGenes a testing lab or a hospital?
No. CardioGenes is an educational website and referral directory. We explain genetic heart testing and heart & vascular care in plain English and connect you with independent, licensed cardiovascular doctors and surgeons — we don't perform tests or provide medical advice ourselves.
Can a genetic test tell me if I'll have a heart attack?
No. Genetic heart tests show risk or carrier status for certain inherited conditions — they don't diagnose heart disease on their own. Results have to be interpreted alongside your personal and family history, a physical exam, imaging and bloodwork by a cardiologist, electrophysiologist or genetic counselor.
Does GINA protect me if I get genetic heart testing?
GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, protects most people in the US from genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment. It does not cover life insurance, disability insurance or long-term-care insurance — ask about those policies before you test.
What's the difference between familial hypercholesterolemia, inherited cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia genes and polygenic risk?
They're different kinds of genetic heart risk. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a single-gene cause of very high cholesterol; inherited cardiomyopathy affects the heart muscle itself; arrhythmia genes (like Long QT or Brugada) affect the heart's electrical rhythm; and polygenic risk scores combine many common gene variants into a statistical risk estimate rather than pointing to one cause.
Will insurance cover genetic heart testing?
It depends on your insurer, your diagnosis and your family history — some testing is covered when clinical criteria are met, and some isn't. Confirm coverage with your insurer and your provider's office before testing.
How do cardiovascular doctors receive referrals on CardioGenes?
Licensed cardiovascular doctors and surgeons can list for free, or reserve an exclusive referral territory — a ZIP code, a region (their state), or sponsor the whole platform as a hospital network — so patients in that area who ask for help are connected to them.
What should I ask before genetic heart testing?
Ask what the test can and can't tell you, what a genetic counselor does before and after testing, how a positive, negative or uncertain result would change your care, whether relatives should be tested too (cascade testing), and how the test affects your insurance options under GINA.