HIPAA Eligibility Information

For millions of families, health insurance is a major area of concern. This can be seen by looking no further than the fact that there are currently 47.5 million uninsured Americans. To ensure that you still have access to health care, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 has set various eligibility requirements.

Significance

1. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was established to protect the privacy of individuals, including health care providers, insurance companies and employers, in various health care transactions. There are certain provisions of the act that allow you to have access to health insurance without having to worry about preexisting conditions or waiting periods.

Rights

2. Individuals who have depleted their insurance coverage under various federal laws, such as COBRA, may be eligible for a continuation of these benefits under HIPAA.

Eligibility 1

3. To be eligible for the HIPAA coverage, you must have at least 18 months of uninterrupted insurance coverage with your employer.

Eligibility 2

4. To be eligible for HIPAA health coverage, you must be ineligible for Medicare A or B or any plan that is supported by employers.

Eligibility 3

5. You are ineligible if you had your health insurance canceled because of failure to make premium payments or because of fraud.