Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 -- Benefits Provision

This White Paper discusses many of the benefit-related provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This legislation represents a slimmed-down version of previous bipartisan health insurance reform proposals and contains provisions that limit preexisting condition exclusions, prohibit discrimination against participants and beneficiaries based on health status, guarantee availability and renewability of coverage for certain employers and individuals, prevent health care fraud and abuse, clarify and expand certain provisions of COBRA, increase the attractiveness of long-term care insurance, and authorize medical spending accounts for small employers and self-employed individuals.

For the full story, please view the PDF.