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Chat with Your Family

Starting the Conversation Because genetic cardiomyopathy is an inherited condition, speaking to your family about genetic testing is one of the most important talks you should have during this process. From learning more about your family’s medical history, to helping a relative understand the impact of genetic testing and early diagnosis, we can help you navigate the conversation.  We have also created an informational flyer that describes genetics and cardiomyopathy and we encourage you to share this with your family, friends and any other cardiomyopathy patients or patient groups. Click here to access this flyer. Tips for Talking With Your…

Become an Advocate

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions  Is the cost of genetic testing covered by insurance? This is a common, logical question. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to simply say “yes” or “no” to this, since every insurance policy is different. It’s also important to know that genetic counseling and genetic testing are billed separately, and coverage of one does not guarantee coverage of the other. With that being said, health insurance usually covers genetic counseling. Insurance companies have different policies, and may cover some tests, but not others. Some cover counseling and testing under specific circumstances, or insist that certain requirements are met before…

Genetic Counseling

Your Partner During Genetic Testing Genetic counselors are trained health professionals that are here to guide and support you before, during and after genetic testing. They are often specialized in certain areas of medicine – such as cardiomyopathy and other cardiovascular diseases – and can meet with you to assess how inherited conditions may impact you and your family. Most people will meet with a genetic counselor face-to-face for one or two visits, possibly more often depending on your needs and situation. You can meet with the genetic counselor alone, with your spouse, a family member or a friend. Not…

After Testing

You Get Your Results. Now What? A positive or negative test result is not a simple “yes” or “no” when it comes to diagnosing genetic cardiomyopathy. That’s why it’s important to talk to a genetic counselor, so you can best understand how your results may impact you and your family. Did You Know? There are many types of genetic mutations that can cause cardiomyopathy. By getting genetic testing, you are helping to advance research into potential treatments and cures for genetic cardiomyopathy. Testing Positive If you receive a positive genetic test result, it does not guarantee that you will develop…

Getting Tested

A Simple, Affordable Process Genetic testing is quickly becoming the standard for helping diagnose inherited cardiomyopathy. Not only is it cost-effective, but it can also help patients find out more about their diagnosis and identify family members who may be at risk of developing the same condition, even if they don’t have any symptoms. In most cases, insurance will cover genetic testing, but we encourage you to check your policy for a full breakdown of your coverage plan before getting genetic testing. Getting testing for cardiomyopathy is done by a simple saliva sample. In partnership with the Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Foundation, we’ve…

Testing

Archived Webinars

Did you miss a webinar that would be valuable for your or a family member? The Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium has captured all of the content and questions for you with these past webinars:  Help Us Save Lives – Become an Advocate We are spreading the word about how Genetic Cardiomyopathy can save lives – and YOU can help! Learn how to join our Advocacy Army! By becoming an advocate for Genetic Cardiomyopathy, you can help us reach more people, share important information, and bring us closer to a future free from this devastating disease. Understanding Cardiomyopathy Genetic Therapies –…

Upcoming Webinars

Stay Tuned for Our Next Webinar To watch our recent webinar and learn how to become part of our Advocacy Army, please click here. Spreading the word about how Genetic Cardiomyopathy can save lives – and YOU This is more than just a webinar – it’s an opportunity to be a part of something bigger. By becoming an advocate for GCM, you can help save lives, improve the quality of life for those affected, and bring us closer to a future free from this devastating disease. We hope you will join us in the fight against genetic cardiomyopathy! Click HERE…

Additional Resources

Finding the right information for your journey is important, and we try to make it as simple as possible. Support and protect yourself, your family and your legacy with the resources available through the patient support organizations listed below: Finding Expert Care It is critical to get the right care. Many cardiologists may not be heart failure specialists or equipped to treat genetic cardiomyopathy. At the present time, there is no definitive way to find the “right doctor.” However, if you want to locate a heart failure or cardiomyopathy specialist, our partners at the DCM Foundation have created some resources…