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Why did Unum send me a HIPAA Privacy Notice?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations require
certain entities, including health insurance issuers, to give a Privacy Notice
to policyholders covered by a health plan. You have received this notice
because you are a policyholder of a health plan, such as a long-term care or
cancer assistance policy, issued by one of Unum's insuring subsidiaries
("Unum").
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What is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a 1996
federal law, the primary purpose of which was to help consumers maintain their
insurance coverage. HIPAA also includes a section aimed at improving the
efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system — called "administrative
simplification." In 1999, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed
and recently finalized certain regulations for health plans, health care
providers and health care clearinghouses to comply with the administrative
simplification requirements of HIPAA. One of these regulations relates to the
privacy of individually identifiable health information of individuals.
Specifically, the regulation sets standards for uses and disclosures of
protected health information of individuals. Health insurance issuers and
certain insurance plans are considered "health plans" and must comply with
HIPAA.
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When I receive a HIPAA Privacy Notice, do I need to sign it and
send it back to Unum?
No, you do not need to sign the notice or send it back to Unum. Our HIPAA
Privacy Notice is for your information only.
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What is "protected health information"?
"Protected health information" (PHI) is personally identifiable information
regarding a person's past, present or future medical condition or the payment
for medical care. For example, protected health information would include
information about a person's physical, mental or behavioral condition that
might be found on a doctor's report used for underwriting or claims management.
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With whom is protected health information shared?
Unum only uses or discloses protected health information for the purposes
listed in the HIPAA Privacy Notice. For example, we may use protected health
information about you, such as a particular medical condition you have provided
to us, in order to underwrite your insurance policy or determine your
eligibility for benefits under your policy.
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May I request restrictions on Unum sharing protected health
information about me?
You may request restrictions on our use or disclosure of protected health
information about you as described in the HIPAA Privacy Notice; however, HIPAA
provides Unum with discretion concerning whether to agree to such requests.
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What safeguards are taken to ensure that protected health
information is protected?
Unum has physical, electronic and procedural safeguards in place. For example,
only authorized employees handle protected health information in servicing
policies. In addition, Unum uses industry standard electronic methods, such as
firewalls, to safeguard the confidentiality of online information.
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How often will customers receive a HIPAA Privacy Notice?
All policyholders then covered by a health plan will receive a HIPAA Privacy
Notice no later than April 14, 2003. New policyholders will receive a HIPAA
Privacy Notice at the time of enrollment, i.e., when their policy is issued.
Every three years, all policyholders covered by a health plan will be notified
of the availability of the HIPAA Privacy Notice and how to obtain it. If Unum's
privacy practices are materially changed, policyholders then covered by a
health plan will receive a revised notice within 60 days.
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Do customers who have group policies receive a HIPAA Privacy
Notice?
Unum issues its group policies to employers and other entities, which are the
group policyholders. Unum provides its HIPAA Privacy Notice to group
policyholders, which means the employers and other entities receive the HIPAA
Privacy Notice. The group policyholder will then distribute the notice to the
employees or other individuals covered under the group policies (insureds or
certificate holders).
Anyone may obtain a copy of Unum's Privacy Notice by:
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Requesting a copy from his or her employer or the entity to which the group
policy is issued;
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Visiting http://www.unum.com/hipaa/privacynotice.aspx
or http://www.coloniallife.com/customer/HIPAAnotice.asp
; or
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Writing to:
Attn: Privacy Officer
Unum Group
2211 Congress Street, M385
Portland, Maine 04122
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Does HIPAA restrict insurance companies from collecting the
applicant's Social Security Number?
No. HIPAA does not prevent the collection or use of a Social Security Number by
an insurance company as an applicant's identifier. It doesn't prevent
applicants or their employers from providing Social Security Numbers as
identifiers.
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Does Unum share protected health information about me for
marketing purposes?
No. Unum does not share protected health information about you to market any
products or services to you.
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The HIPAA Privacy Notice says I have certain rights concerning
protected health information about me. How do I exercise those rights?
In order to exercise any of your rights as described in the HIPAA Privacy
Notice, write to:
Attn: Privacy Officer
Unum Group
2211 Congress Street, M385
Portland, Maine 04122
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