Brought to you by Health Insurance Choice, your source for Free Health Insurance Quote When You Get a New Job If you find a new job that offers a group health plan, or, if you are eligible under another family member's group health plan, you first need to determine whether HIPAA applies to the group health plan. For example, if the job is with a church, or with a State or local governmental employer, or with a very small employer, HIPAA protections may be more limited. Ask your new employer for information about HIPAA, or your State Insurance Department listed beginning on page 40. If HIPAA does apply to your group health plan, then generally it: - Limits the length of preexisting condition exclusions that can keep you and your dependents from getting full coverage;
- Generally prohibits the health plan from denying coverage, or charging higher rates based on your or your dependents' current health or health history; and
- May give you a special enrollment period for enrolling in the group health plan when you lose other coverage if you chose not to join the health plan when you were first eligible or when you have a new dependent.
When You Leave a Job or Otherwise Lose Group Health Plan Coverage If you are a HIPAA eligible individual, and you apply for individual health coverage within 63 days after losing group health plan coverage, HIPAA: - Guarantees that you will have a choice of at least two coverage options;
- Guarantees that you will be eligible, regardless of any medical conditions you may have, to purchase some type of individual coverage, whether from a health insurance issuer, high-risk pool, or other source designated by your State; and
- Guarantees that you will not be subject to any preexisting condition exclusions.
HIPAA does NOT limit the amount you can be charged for the policy . However, State law may set limits. Also, if your coverage is through a network plan , HIPAA does not guarantee that your policy will be renewed if you move outside the area served by providers under contract with your insurer. In addition, if your coverage is through a high-risk pool, and you move out of the State, HIPAA does not guarantee that your coverage will be renewed. HIPAA Basics Part 3 |
