NRECA Sending HIPAA Privacy Notice to Participants

NRECA will mail the Notice of Privacy Practices in September to all participants enrolled in the NRECA medical, dental and vision plans.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires plan sponsors like NRECA to send notices to all participants in covered health care plans upon enrollment, at least every three years or whenever the plan’s privacy practices substantially change (if sooner than three years).

NRECA last sent the privacy notice to all participants in September 2013.

Note: The privacy notice included with the mailing is for participants’ information only. They do not need to sign it or return it to NRECA.

What is the privacy notice?
The Notice of Privacy Practices explains the plan’s privacy practices and legal duties as well as participants’ rights regarding their protected health information (PHI). The notice also describes how the plan can use and disclose PHI under the HIPAA rules in instances with and without the participant’s authorization.

Find the privacy notice on the NRECA Employee Benefits website.

Privacy notice for Health FSA and HRA Plans
HIPAA’s privacy notice distribution requirements also apply to co-ops’ Health Flexible Spending Account and Health Reimbursement Arrangement. This article in the March 2, 2016, issue of I&FS Weekly included information on these requirements and provided a link to a sample privacy notice for co-ops with FSA and HRA plans. 

If you have questions about the mailing or the HIPAA privacy rules, contact the Member Contact Center at 866.673.2299 or contactcenter@nreca.coop.