health insurance portability and accountability act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. A 1996 federal law that provides additional health-insurance protections to employees by limiting the effect of preexisting conditions on an employee’s ability to obtain insurance; permitting an employee to enroll a new dependent acquired by birth, adoption, or marriage; making it easier for people to maintain insurance coverage while changing jobs; and helping businesses employing fewer than 50 workers to obtain group insurance plans. • The Act is codified in various sections of 18 USCA, 26USCA, 29 USCA, and 42 USCA. — Abbr. HIPAA.