Health Insurance Info
Each year millions of Americans face life events, varying from the birth of a baby, the onset of a chronic condition or disabling disease, divorce, changing jobs, a business closing, cutting back on staff or reducing the number of hours you work.
You need to know how these and other life events affect your health insurance coverage. Your ability to get and keep health insurance coverage may be of special concern if you or your family members have a history of medical problems. Understanding recent changes in federal law, as well as existing state laws, can help you and your family members when you buy, change or continue health insurance, and informa you of legal health coverage protections.
Using the following information as a general guideline, it is important to remember that health insurance laws in your State may provide even greater protections to buy, change, or continue health coverage. Please direct questions about coverage guidelines and protections in your State to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Web site to search for the appropriate State health insurance department.
Essential HIPAA information sources:
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
- The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996
- The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA)
- The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA)
- HHS Expands Health Plan Options in Medicare+Choice
- Health Privacy: Know Your Rights