How You Can Be Affected By HIPAA
While you will probably have at least had some sort of brief encounter with HIPAA, you may still only have a vague idea of what it is all about. In fact, the HIPAA has influenced the health care industry and the way health care data is stored to a large extent. It has also made it easier for individuals to change from one insurance company to another or to obtain new insurance policies.
The direct impact of HIPAA on you
The most common way in which most people encounter the HIPAA is in the form of release forms that individuals are required to sign before undergoing medical treatment, giving the medical facility the right to share your medical data for the purposes of your treatment. Before such medical tests as an x-ray, patients are required to sign a HIPAA form granting the medical facility permissions to share the patient's medical data. Without this form, the facility would not be allowed to do so. Even when consent has been granted, the medical facility is only allowed to share data when absolutely necessary for the successful completion of the patient's treatment. The HIPAA thus affords patients protection for their medical records as well as their payment history for their medical expenses.
The HIPAA also affords you protection in the area of health insurance coverage. If you should change your job, you will most likely lose your current health insurance coverage and have to start anew with a fresh plan at your new workplace. When this happens, most companies will subject your new insurance plan to exclusions based on your pre-existing conditions. By allowing you to receive credit for the length of time that you were covered under your old insurance coverage, the HIPAA attempts to regulate such actions by companies. It is now possible for someone to change employers or insurance carriers without having to undergo the exclusions period for their pre-existing conditions. This is of particular benefit to anyone whose family members suffer from medical conditions. The HIPAA also regulates the maximum premium that a person with family members suffering from medical conditions can be charged.
In conclusion, the HIPAA is simply a set of laws governing the privacy of your personal medical information or to provide you with protection when you are forced to switch insurance carriers or reinstate your insurance coverage after a long lapse. The effects of the HIPAA are largely dependent on the length of time that you were covered under your previous insurance plan, and it is therefore a good idea that you discuss your health insurance coverage with your employer in order to better understand the effect that HIPAA will have on you.