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Benefits — Texas

Health insurance portability and accountability 

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that was designed to limit the application of preexisting coverage exclusions in health plans and to prohibit discrimination in group health plan eligibility and premiums based on an individual’s health status, medical condition and genetics. For example, most healthcare plans require an individual to wait a period of time (called the “limitation” period) before providing for payment of healthcare costs related to a preexisting medical condition. HIPAA requires employer-sponsored health benefit plans to “credit” an employee’s prior health coverage under a prior employer-sponsored plan against any preexisting condition exclusion limitation period that may exist under the new employer’s health plan, thus allowing the employee to take advantage of healthcare coverage faster under a new employer plan. Beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) precluded application of preexisting condition limitations by group health plans and health insurers.

See Health insurance portability and privacy.

Individual coverage health reimbursement account

Effective January 1, 2020, employers of any size may sponsor an individual coverage health reimbursement account (ICHRA). ICHRAs...


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