HIPAA Special Enrollment Periods!

[Guest Benmark]

I hope this is an easy question:

If someone qualifies under the HIPAA special enrollment periods, to what "health plans" would the enrollment apply?

We offer the following electable plans to employees: Medical, dental, vision, FSA, and voluntary life insurance.

Would the eligible employee/dependent be allowed to enroll in all of these?

Thanks,

Mark

[Sandra Pearce]

The portability rules apply to individual and group health coverage, exlcuding accident only, disability, liability, WC, credit insurance, on-site medical clinics, limited scope dental and vision benefits provided under separate policies, long term care benefits, medicare supplemental plans and specific disease or illness policies. If you're dental and vision are provided in separate policies then I think they would not be subject to the special enrollment provisions. Voluntary life is definitely not included or subject to special enrollment. Your FSA, if your document allows, could have provisions for special enrollment circumstances - birth, marriage, adoption.

[Guest Benmark]

Thanks for taking the time to answer the question, Sandra. Gives me a much better understanding.

Thanks!

Mark