{"id":333,"date":"2023-10-05T10:59:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T14:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/?page_id=333"},"modified":"2024-10-17T11:58:19","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T15:58:19","slug":"portability-provision","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/portability-provision\/","title":{"rendered":"Portability Provision"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-wps-content-blocks-page-banner page-banner\"><div class=\"bg-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1600\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"bg-image inline-image wp-image-666\" src=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/retirees.jpg\" alt=\"ATL skyline through trees-resources\" style=\"object-fit:cover;object-position:53% 82%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/retirees.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/retirees-600x480.jpg 600w, https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/retirees-1800x1440.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/retirees-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/retirees-1536x1229.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-wps-content-blocks-page-banner-content page-banner__content\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Portability Provision<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:80px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"is-style-lead\">The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 provides protection for employees and dependents who have pre-existing medical conditions or might be denied health coverage based on factors related to an individual\u2019s health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HIPAA includes changes that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limit exclusion for pre-existing conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prohibit discrimination against employees and dependents based on their health status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guarantee renewability and availability of health coverage to certain employers and individuals; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protect many workers who lose health coverage by providing better access to individual health insurance coverage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Under HIPAA, the employer may impose a pre-existing condition exclusion with respect to an employee, dependent, or beneficiary only if the following requirements are satisfied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A pre-existing condition exclusion must relate to a condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received during the 6-month period prior to an individual\u2019s enrollment date;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A pre-existing condition exclusion may not last for more than 12 months after an individual\u2019s enrollment date; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This 12-month period must be reduced by the length of time of the individual\u2019s prior creditable coverage, excluding coverage before any break in coverage of 90 days or more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-h5\">How Portability Affects City of Atlanta Active Employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Effective January 1, 1998, you and your dependents do not have to satisfy a pre-existing condition waiting period if you provide certification of prior creditable coverage sufficient to satisfy the respective pre-existing condition waiting periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-h5\">When an Employee Terminates Coverage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>HIPAA requires that your insurance carrier provide you (and your dependents) with certificates of coverage automatically upon termination of coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-h5\">Special Enrollment Periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are special enrollment periods for you and your dependents who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Originally declined coverage because of other coverage, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who exhausted COBRA benefits, lost eligibility for prior coverage, or employer contributions toward coverage were terminated, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An individual declining coverage must certify in writing that they are covered by another health program when they initially decline coverage under this group in order to later qualify under this special enrollment. A person declining coverage will be given notice of the consequences when they originally decline coverage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, there also are special enrollment periods for new dependents resulting from marriages, births, or adoptions. An unenrolled member may enroll within 31 days of such a special qualifying event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-h5\">Important Notes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Individuals or dependents must request coverage within 31 days of qualifying event (i.e. marriages, exhaustion of COBRA, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evidence of prior creditable coverage is required. Please refer to your benefit booklet for more information concerning Portability Provisions and Requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All new hires should submit a copy of the HIPAA Form received from their previous employer to the DHR \u2013 Employee Benefits for proper credit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-navigation has-tertiary-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:2rem;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:2rem\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-h4 has-quaternary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-628dd50173ec0543f0abbada48b26500\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"94\">Resources<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n            <nav translate=\"no\" class=\"sidebar-navigation\" aria-label=\"Sidebar\">\n            <ul class=\"menu\">\n                <li class=\"page_item page-item-756\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/#important-documents\">Important Documents<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-310\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/important-contacts\/\">Important Contacts<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-316\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/eligibility-for-benefits\/\">Eligibility for Benefits<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-319\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/dependent-eligibility-documentation-requirements\/\">Dependent Eligibility Documentation Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-330\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/making-mid-year-changes\/\">Making Mid-Year Changes<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-333\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/portability-provision\/\">Portability Provision<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-337\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/cobra-continuation-coverage\/\">COBRA Continuation Coverage<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-358\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/newborns-and-mothers-health-protection-act\/\">Newborns\u2019 and Mothers\u2019 Health Protection Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-361\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/womens-health-and-cancer-rights-act\/\">Women\u2019s Health and Cancer Rights Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-364\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/hipaa-special-enrollment-rights\/\">HIPAA Special Enrollment Rights<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-367\"><a href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/glossary\/\">Glossary<\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/nav>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 provides protection for employees and dependents who have pre-existing medical conditions or might be denied health coverage based on factors related to an individual\u2019s health. HIPAA includes changes that: Under HIPAA, the employer may impose a pre-existing condition exclusion with respect to an employee, dependent, or beneficiary only if the following requirements are satisfied: How Portability Affects City of Atlanta Active Employees Effective January 1, 1998, you and your dependents do not have to satisfy a pre-existing condition waiting period if you provide certification of prior creditable coverage sufficient to satisfy<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/resources\/portability-provision\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":94,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-333","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1402,"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/333\/revisions\/1402"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/benefits.atlantaga.gov\/2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}