To require life and disability insurers to disclose an insurance applicant's medical test results to the applicant, unless the applicant specifically declines to receive the results, and otherwise to restrict the disclosure of such results by such insurers.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 1, 1997

Requires that a life or disability insurer, if the insurer requires an applicant for life or disability insurance to submit to a medical examination or test, ensure disclosure to the applicant of the test results. Prohibits the insurer from disclosing the results to any other person, except under a written authorization made by the applicant, pursuant to certain legal process, or to a public health authority when expressly required by law. Provides for civil actions for violations of this Act by any aggrieved person, allowing recovery of statutory, compensatory, and punitive damages and attorney's fees. Declares that, for provisions of Federal law commonly known as the McCarran-Ferguson Act prohibiting Federal insurance law from preempting State law unless the Federal law specifically relates to the business of insurance, this Act shall be considered to specifically relate to the business of insurance.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] · D–OR

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee

12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 15, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Oct 15, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials.
Oct 1, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Oct 1, 1997
Introduced in House
Oct 1, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 1, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2590 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2590, 105th Congress: To require life and disability insurers to disclose an insurance applicant's medical test results to the applicant, unless the applicant specifically declines to receive the results, and otherwise to restrict the disclosure of such results by such insurers.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2590

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2590/BILLS-105hr2590ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2590 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2590 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2590, 105th Congress: To require life and disability insurers to disclose an insurance applicant's medical test results to the applicant, unless the applicant specifically declines to receive the results, and otherwise to restrict the disclosure of such results by such insurers.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2590

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2590/BILLS-105hr2590ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2590 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2590 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2590, 105th Congress: To require life and disability insurers to disclose an insurance applicant's medical test results to the applicant, unless the applicant specifically declines to receive the results, and otherwise to restrict the disclosure of such results by such insurers.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2590

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2590/BILLS-105hr2590ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2590 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2590 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2590, 105th Congress: To require life and disability insurers to disclose an insurance applicant's medical test results to the applicant, unless the applicant specifically declines to receive the results, and otherwise to restrict the disclosure of such results by such insurers.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2590

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr2590/BILLS-105hr2590ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2590 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.