health sectionhealth sectionAn employer's group health plan provides employees with low-cost insurance benefits that only last as long as an employee stays at the job. In an effort to protect a person's ability to maintain health care coverage, the federal government enacted HIPAA and COBRA laws. These laws make health insurance coverage a "portable" entitlement by protecting a person's rights to qualify for health care insurance when an employer's group plan is no longer available.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries of employer-sponsored group health plans to prevent workers or their families from being denied health care coverage. The regulation develops guidelines for health plans that prohibit them from excluding anyone from coverage based on a preexisting medical condition. The rule prohibits health plans from using a health status to determine eligibility. HIPAA gives certain individuals the right to join a plan outside of its open enrollment period as well as a right to purchase individual coverage.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 requires healthcare providers to de-identify patient files -- which includes the removal of unique identifying numbers, characteristics and codes -- as well as provide system-wide protection from unauthorized persons viewing patient files inappropriately. This protection extends to medical staff and personnel not authorized to view specific medical files and charts.
The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) describes, in detail, how a patient's health information can be used. Medical facilities must take great care to ensure that a person's privacy is a top priority. This is done, in part, by regulating how Protected Health Information (PHI) is used. PHI refers to diagnoses, treatments and demographics of a patient. Also, information can only be shared with covered entities, insurance companies or medical personnel directly involved in the patient's care. In some cases, a patient's privacy rights can be waived. Without a waiver, however, HIPAA rules must be strictly enforced.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was a law enacted by Congress in 1996 and went into effect beginning 2003. This law and its amendments provide for a number of rights for individuals in regard to their medical coverage and records.
HIPAA refers to the federal law created by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act passed in 1996. This law increased the portability of health insurance by limiting coverage exclusions and health-related discrimination.
When most of us think of the Clinton Health Care Plan, we remember Hillary Clinton's failed attempt to bring universal health coverage to all Americans. Still, one important reform did become law in 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA. The act protects American's rights to health insurance when we lose or change jobs, get divorced, pregnant or move. Under HIPAA you cannot be denied group health insurance because of your health. It also limits exclusions for pre existing conditions. Here are your most important rights under HIPPA:
