The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
The
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA),
amended the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
(ERISA) to provide new rights and protections for
participants and
beneficiaries
in
group health plans. HIPAA contains
protections both for health coverage offered in connection with employment (group
health plans) and for individual insurance policies
sold by insurance companies (individual policies).
HIPAA includes
protections for coverage under group health plans that:
- Limit exclusions for
preexisting conditions;
- Prohibit discrimination against employees
and dependents in group health plan eligibility, benefits,
and premiums based on health factors; and
- Allow individuals a special opportunity to enroll in group health
plan coverage under certain circumstances.
Remember, HIPAA coverage requires 2 or more participants who are current employees on
the first day of that plan year.
|
