Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Coverage

• The groups that must abide by HIPAA’s mandates include doctors and other medical professionals, insurance companies, employers and medical data organizers.
  
  

Protection

• HIPAA puts some limitations on insurance companies denying insurance coverage based on preexisting medical conditions. The act prevents employers from discriminating by denying health insurance enrollment or charging higher premiums.
  
  

Exclusions

• The law says that preexisting conditions must have warranted medical care within the six months before someone enrolls in an insurance program. Insurance companies or employers cannot deny health coverage for more than 12 months because of a preexisting condition.
  
  

Information

• Doctors, insurance companies and other health care professionals cannot release information from patients' or customers’ medical records in most situations. Professional can exchange information if it is in the best interest of someone’s treatment.
  
  

Access

• Patients and their immediate family members have the right, under HIPAA, to see their medical records. Doctors can also share information with law enforcement agencies to complete police reports.
  
  

Violations

• The Department of Health and Human Services handles HIPAA violations. The department can impose fines of up to $50,000 for each violation, up to a maximum of $1.5 million per year. Violations can also result in criminal charges.