Which entity is NOT affected by the GINA regulations?

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) primarily aims to prevent discrimination based on genetic information in health insurance and employment settings. GINA regulations specifically apply to health care plans and employers with 15 or more employees. Therefore, entities with less than 15 employees are exempt from these regulations, which is why this option is the correct choice.

Life insurance providers and long-term disability plans, on the other hand, are not covered under GINA. This means that while employers and health insurance cannot discriminate based on genetic information, life insurance and long-term disability providers can utilize genetic information when evaluating applications and determining coverage. Similarly, military insurance programs also have provisions that may allow them to access genetic information, thus falling outside the protections of GINA.

Understanding GINA's limitations is important for genetic counselors and healthcare professionals as they navigate issues of privacy, discrimination, and informed consent for their patients regarding genetic testing and information.