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May 9, 2009   
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Health Plans & Benefits

Consumer Information on Health Plans

The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) provides a Web page dedicated to consumer information on health plans to provide health plan participants and their beneficiaries with information on their rights under the federal health benefits law with respect to their job-based plans. The information ranges from general information on the law to numerous specific issues.

DOL Web Pages on This Topic

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Provides a brief overview of COBRA.

Fact Sheet: The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)
HIPAA offers protections for millions of American workers for portability and continuity of health insurance coverage. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the law.

Filing a Claim for Your Retirement Benefits
Provides advice to participants about how to file a claim for benefits and what to do if the claim is denied.

Frequently Asked Questions for Participants & Beneficiaries Related to the Events of September 11th
Provides answers to the most frequently asked questions by workers and their families whose pension and/or health plan benefits have been impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.

Frequently Asked Questions for Reservists Being Called to Active Duty Related to their Pension and Health Benefits
Provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about pension and health benefits by National Guard and reserve members being called to active duty as a result of the events of September 11, 2001.

General Facts on Women & Job Based Health Benefits
Provides data on women and job-based health benefits.

An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA (PDF)
COBRA gives workers and their family members who lose their health benefits in certain circumstances the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their health plan. This publication provides a detailed overview of the law.

Your Health Plan and HIPAA ... Making the Law Work for You
Provides information about major provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, and the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act.

How to Obtain Employee Benefit Plan Documents from the Department of Labor
Describes the documents and materials available through the EBSA public disclosure room and how you can obtain the documents from them.

Life Changes Require Health Choices (Español)
Provides guidance on making health benefit decisions following key life events such as marriage or the birth or adoption of a child.

Life Events Impact Health Benefit Needs
Provides a brief description of federal laws that may protect your health care rights following key life events such as marriage or retirement.

Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA)
The MHPA generally requires that annual or lifetime dollar limits on mental health benefits be no lower than any such dollar limits for medical and surgical benefits offered by a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering coverage in connection with a group health plan. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the law.

Pension and Welfare Brief: Can the Retiree Health Benefits Provided by Your Employer Be Cut?
Provides retirees and current employees with tips for checking the documents that govern health care coverage during retirement.

Protections for Newborns, Adopted Children, and New Parents - the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996
The Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act generally requires plans that offer maternity coverage to pay for at least a 48-hour hospital stay following childbirth (96-hour stay in the case of a cesarean section). This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the law.

Protecting Pension and Health Care Benefits After Job Loss
Provides a brief description of your rights under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) if you experience job termination or reduction in hours.

Questions & Answers for Dislocated Workers
Provides answers to commonly asked questions by dislocated workers about their pension and health benefits.

Top 10 Ways to Make Your Health Benefits Work for You (Español)
Provides 10 tips to help make your health benefits work better for you.

Work Changes Require Health Choices (Español)
Provides information on making health care decisions when your work life changes.

Workers' Right to Health Plan Information
Provides a brief overview of your right to health plan information under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Your Employer's Bankruptcy: How Will it Affect Your Employee Benefits?
Provides information about bankruptcy’s effect on pension plans and group health plans.

Your Rights After A Mastectomy...Women's Health & Cancer Rights Act of 1998
Provides questions and answers designed to clarify a woman’s basic WHCRA rights.

 

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