Browse all the Lawforwa Resources on Group Plans

Resource Description:

Questions answered by the resource:

Understanding How the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act May Affect You
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HIPAAGenInfo/
Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Topics covered include: types of health insurance to which HIPAA applies, who is eligible for HIPAA protections, what rights people have under HIPAA, how to maximize HIPAA protections, how preexisting conditions may affect coverage, and how COBRA continuation coverage or conversion coverage may affect a person's eligibility for HIPAA protections.
full description

• How can I determine whether the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects me?
• What rights do I have under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act?
• What rights do I have regarding health insurance if I am losing a job, or getting a new job?
• How will my or my family's health or preexisting conditions effect our health care coverage?
• Can a group health plan discriminate against people because of their health or for other reasons?
• Can my health plan exclude or limit coverage for preexisting conditions?
• My employment is terminating. Should I purchase conversion health coverage or COBRA coverage?
• Can a health plan refuse to renew my health insurance?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
http://cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa1/content/more.asp
Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Overview of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA"). Describes, in general, how HIPAA may help people obtain or keep health insurance. Includes a link to the Act itself.
full description

• What is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act?

Workers' Rights to Health Plan Information
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/planinfo
Source: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, United States Department of Labor

Describes the information which employers are required to give to employees about health plans, including plan descriptions and explanations of the procedures for appealing denial of benefits.
full description

• What rights do I have to information about my group health, prescription, dental, or vision plan?
• How to I get information about appealing a denial of benefits?

Protections When Buying Individual Health Insurance in Washington
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/wa03.html
Source: Institute for Health Care Research and Policy, Georgetown University

Comprehensive description of health insurance options for, and rights of, people who can not obtain, or are loosing, coverage through en employer or other group plan. Topics covered include individual health insurance sold by private insurers, COBRA continuation coverage and Washington continuation coverage, conversion policies, and the Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP).
full description

• What rules regulate when and how an insurance company can refuse to cover me because of my health?
• I am having a baby or adopting a child. Will my individual health policy cover the child?
• Can my individual health insurance exclude or limit coverage for preexisting conditions?
• Can I be charged more for individual health insurance because of my health?
• Can my health insurance company cancel my insurance because of my health?
• I had health insurance through my employer, but I no longer work there. Can I continue my coverage, and if so, for how long, and what should I do when coverage terminates?
• When must COBRA coverage be offered to me?
• What do I have to pay for COBRA coverage?
• How long will COBRA coverage last?
• What is conversion coverage and when will I be eligible for it?
• I can't find a health insurance company that will cover me or my children because of preexisting conditions. What other options are available?
• What is the Washington State Health Insurance Pool, who is eligible for it, and what will it cover?

Your Employer's Bankruptcy: How Will it Affect Your Employment Benefits (Including Health Insurance)
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsbankruptcy.html
Source: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, United States Department of Labor

Describes what employees should do about their health plans when their employers are in bankruptcy. Topics covered include: how to get documents from, and what questions to ask, a health plan administrator; situations in which COBRA continuation coverage may or may not be available; how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") may protect workers of bankrupt employees, and where to go for help or more information. This resource describes rights under federal laws.
full description

• Can I keep my health insurance if my employer declares bankruptcy?