Don’t confuse HIPAA laws with true protection. It is quite common for many of us to read quickly through or barely skim the authorization form before signing it. But it is important to know that these laws are in place to protect you from identity theft. It was once thought to protect from being denied care or being denied health insurance coverage, but that no longer holds true.
In 1996 passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. These laws enacted a new standard for the protection of your health information. When you go to various physicians or hospitals, your health information must follow, for your protection. These laws help to continually protect your health information while it passes from venue to venue. As transactions are more prone to be completed electronically, HIPAA laws are your protection of your personal information through these specific channels.
What, exactly, does HIPAA protect you from? These laws keeps safe your personal information such as birth date, address and Social Security Number. Information such as physical and mental conditions, past, present and future, must be protected. Any information that it does not cover must be personally non-identifiable. By enacting these laws, it means more protection for you against identity theft and firmer remedies if this did happen.
HIPAA laws also define how health insurance providers can use your information. They may only use your information without your permission if it is necessary to provide the best health care, sending information to you and, of course, collection on medical expenses. Any other reasons to transfer this information must be authorized by you, in writing. In addition, any authorization must be in plain English so it is understood that you know exactly what you are signing.
It was once believed that these health information laws covered customers from being denied access to medical insurance. This is only true in some cases. For example, it may protect you from being denied health coverage through an employer. But as insurance companies continuously work on being more profitable by denying more coverage, you are more likely to not be protected.
Since much of the HIPAA laws seem to be obsolete as far as protection from being denied health coverage, health reform seems to be a necessary thing. Private insurance companies are not in the business of providing insurance for everyone, they are in the business of making profit in any way they can. It is up to us to try to find our modern-day protection.
Learn more about real health protection and personal health insurance thoughts for personal accountability
Tags: affordable health insurance, health information, health insurance, health insurance reform, HIPAA, HIPAA laws, medical insurance