Page Title
Baptiste &             
        Wilder, P.C.

    What are my rights under the Health Insurance Portability
    and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?

    HIPAA amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), to provide new
    rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans.  
    Understanding this amendment is important to your decisions about future health
    coverage.  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).

    If you find a new job that offers health coverage, or if you are eligible for coverage under a
    family member's employment-based plan, HIPAA includes protections for coverage under
    group health plans that:

              *       Limit exclusions for preexisting conditions

               *       Prohibit discrimination against employees and dependents
                        based on their health status

               *       Allow a special opportunity to enroll in a new plan to
                        individuals in certain circumstances

    If you choose to apply for an individual policy for yourself or your family, HIPAA includes
    protections for individual policies that:

              *      Guarantee access to individual policies for people who
                       qualify

               *      Guarantee renewability of individual policies




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