HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act addresses benefits provided by an employer group health insurance plan.
HIPAA addresses issues such as PHI (protected health information) and how that information should be communicated.
The best known of HIPAA provisions address the portability feature that allows employees to continue coverage under the employer group health insurance plan when they are no longer an active employee.
HIPAA does not specifically address group life insurance.
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
HIPAA does apply to life insurance as the insurance company will be seeking personal medical information about the applicant and must have written authorization from the applicant in order for any medical records to be released. Doctors offices and hospitals following HIPAA guidelines will not release any medical history without written consent from the individual whose records are being requested.
HIPAA applies to life insurance in that the medical information you share on the application, the results of your paramed exam, and any medical records that are ordered are kept private from anyone except the agency that orders them and the life insurance company that reviews them. Your information is never shared. The Medical Information Bureau does put a code on your MIB to represent any existing health conditions that showed up as a result of your applying for Life Insurance. This is to help prevent multiple fraudulent applications by those who are attempting to use Life Insurance for illegal purposes.
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
Does HIPAA apply to life insurance? Yes, HIPAA applies to the life insurance process in the form of a medical information release the applicant signs off on that acts as a HIPAA document that is presented to doctor's offices and hospitals and other medical information resources to gather health history on the applicant.
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HIPAA addresses issues such as PHI (protected health information) and how that information should be communicated.
The best known of HIPAA provisions address the portability feature that allows employees to continue coverage under the employer group health insurance plan when they are no longer an active employee.
HIPAA does not specifically address group life insurance.