The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

HIPAA protects workers and their families by:
  • Limiting exclusions for preexisting medical conditions; provides credit for prior health coverage and a process for providing certificates concerning prior coverage to a new group health plan or issuer; provides new rights that allow individuals to enroll for health coverage when they lose other health coverage or add a new dependent; prohibits discrimination in enrollment and in premiums charged to employees and their dependents based on health status-related factors; guarantees availability of health insurance coverage for small employers and renewability of health insurance coverage in both the small and large group markets; and
  • Preserves the states role in regulating health insurance, including the states authority to provide greater protections.