New HIPAA Rules Go Into Effect February 17th

Beginning February 17, 2010, health insurance agents and brokers must comply with a new version of HIPAA privacy and security. The genesis for the new regulations is the electronic medical records provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) or stimulus act. The new provisions have raised the expectation of compliance (and punishment for non-compliance) for all Covered Entities. Agents, brokers, consultants and for the first time business associates are classified as Covered Entities. In today's environment, we all must become compliant with HIPAA privacy and security as well as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley privacy requirements.

New Laws for Medicare Supplement Insurance "Medigap" (posted 3/01/10)

The federal Medicare improvements for Patients and Providrs Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-275) required states to adopt certain changes to Medicare Supplement insurance policies.  These changes became law in California on July 2, 2009 when Assembly Bill 1543 (Chapter 10, Statutes of 2009) was signed.

Medicare Supplement insurance, sometimes known as "Medigap" insurance, may be purchased by anyone enrolled in Medicare.  Medigap Plans are designed to cover some of the out-of-pocket expenses that people have to pay when using their Medicare benefits.

Under the new law, all of the Medigap Plans have been revised; some of the lettered plans were changed, some were dropped and some new ones were added. These new Medigap Plans will not take effect until June 1, 2010 - but agents may advertise and market the new Plans prior to that date.

Please take a moment to review the Medigap Notice