Other Insurance Protections

The Affordable Care Act has given health care consumers many new rights and protections.  This section of the website contains information on other important rights and protections that were created prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

COBRA

COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has advisory jurisdiction over the continuation coverage requirements of COBRA as they apply to group health plans which are sponsored by state, county, municipal, or public school districts (“Public Sector COBRA”).

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)

The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) is a federal law that generally prevents group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits from imposing less favorable benefit limitations on those benefits than on medical/surgical coverage.

Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act (NMHPA)

The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA) is a federal law that affects the length of time a mother and newborn child are covered for a hospital stay in connection with childbirth.

Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA)

The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) is a federal law that provides protections to patients who choose to have breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy.