Legal Protections
We offer much more information about health insurance - including protections offered by the Affordable Care Act and what to do if you’re uninsured or shopping for new coverage - in the Course 1 section: Transitioning to Adult Care.
If you skipped that course, catch up here!
Beyond the Affordable Care Act:
Employee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA): ERISA is a law that prohibits employers from using knowledge of an employee’s health history to exclude him or her from benefit plans offered to other employees. The law also permits employees to appeal insurance decisions and to sue the employer or insurer if benefits are now provided in accordance with ERISA rules. The U.S. Department of Labor provides information about filing a claim, here.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA): This law allows individuals to change employers without losing coverage, if they have been insured for at least 12 months. It prevents group health plans from denying coverage based on medical history, genetic information, or claims history, although insurers can still exclude those with specific diseases or conditions. It also increases portability if you change from a group to an individual plan. For additional information, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ HIPPA Helpful Tips guide (PDF).