| The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability | | | | affect patients is protecting their right to maintain |
| Act of 1996, also known as HIPAA has an effect | | | | insurance. An employee is able to maintain |
| on medical and insurance personnel as well as | | | | insurance when transferring jobs or while looking |
| patients. It was enacted with several important | | | | for a new job thanks to the HIPAA laws. Prior to |
| goals in mind that directly affect patients, including | | | | this law being enacted an employee's health care |
| to protect health insurance for workers and their | | | | coverage could be cancelled effective immediately |
| families when they lose their job or change | | | | if they were fired, laid off or quit their job. This |
| employers and to protect the privacy of patients' | | | | meant a lot of families had to go without health |
| health information. It also helps to reduce health | | | | care coverage for a period of time until a new |
| insurance fraud abuse and sets penalties for | | | | job was found and they became eligible for |
| anyone guilty of those offenses. | | | | insurance through their next employer. |
| Knowing Your Rights Regarding Your Medical | | | | Pre-existing Conditions can't be Denied |
| Records | | | | The HIPAA laws also protect workers with a |
| One of the direct effects that the HIPAA laws | | | | "pre-existing condition" from being denied health |
| have on patients is that they must be informed | | | | insurance indefinitely. In the past, an employee |
| of their rights. Each time a patient goes into a | | | | with a known health condition that required |
| doctor's office, clinic, hospital or counseling office, | | | | medical assistance could be denied insurance if he |
| they must be offered a copy of the HIPAA | | | | or she changed employers. The HIPAA laws |
| policies and sign a statement that they have | | | | provide a reasonable waiting period, but assure a |
| either received this information or declined to | | | | person with health problems the right to regain |
| receive it. It is important for patients to know | | | | their much needed health care coverage and get |
| their rights when it comes to their medical | | | | the medical attention they need. |
| records. Everyone should know who has access | | | | In short, the HIPAA laws affect a patient by |
| to their personal health information and what | | | | giving them important protection for their health |
| purposes that information can be used for. | | | | insurance coverage as well as helping to protect |
| Your Right to Maintain Health Coverage | | | | their privacy. This is comforting for patients to |
| Another important way that the HIPAA laws | | | | know that their rights are being protected. |