HIPAA Rules on Adding Dependents

• HIPAA sets rules on adding dependents to your health insurance plan. B2M Productions/Polka Dot/Getty Images

  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known by its acronym, HIPAA, provides legal protections for individuals who would like to add a dependent to their group health insurance policy, among other protections. If you get married, have a baby or acquire some other dependent, you may want to add them to your health insurance policy right away. HIPAA provides special enrollment rights for certain people.

Births and Adoptions

• If you have a baby or adopt a child, you may add the child to your group health insurance plan at any time under HIPAA. You may be asked to provide proof of your child's birth or adoption by showing his birth certificate or adoption paperwork. Before HIPAA was passed, you may have had to wait to add a new baby or adopted child to your insurance plan until your health insurance company had an "open enrollment" period for adding new dependents. HIPAA protects you from having to wait for open enrollment, which could be costly if your child requires medical attention before that period occurs.

Marriage

• You may add a new spouse to your group health insurance plan if you get married. As was previously the case with new babies and adopted children, you had to wait for an open enrollment period to add your new spouse to your plan before HIPAA was passed. As soon as you have proof of your marriage, such as a marriage license, you may enroll your new spouse in your health insurance policy.

If You Are Not Enrolled

• If you're not currently enrolled in your employer's group health insurance plan, but you are eligible to enroll and you acquire a new dependent, you may enroll yourself and your dependent right away instead of having to wait for an open enrollment period. If you are not eligible to enroll, you may not add yourself or your dependent. You might not be eligible if you work part-time or if you have recently started working for your company and a waiting period is required before you can receive health insurance benefits. Ask your company's human resources director for more information on whether you are eligible to enroll.