Information on this website is presented to highlight some of our benefits. The only official statement of your rights and responsibilities regarding your benefits is your Summary Plan Description, which contains information on your rights and responsibilities regarding your benefits. In case of any conflict between information on this website and the Summary Plan Description, the Summary Plan Description shall govern.
Links to various other web sites from this site are provided for your convenience only and do not imply endorsement of any site, product, or service. The 1199SEIU Family of Funds disclaims responsibility for their content and accuracy.
We are concerned with your privacy when you visit our website, just as we are concerned with your privacy in all of your dealings with the 1199SEIU Family of Funds. While visiting the site, you may have the opportunity to volunteer personal information. If, for example, you choose to communicate with us by e-mail, we may need information from you, such as your name and address or other personal information, in order to answer your questions and communicate with you. We will not submit this information to a third party. You can visit us on the web and choose not to share any information about yourself or reveal any information about who you are. The numbers of visitors to our site may be collected automatically.
Our site contains links to other websites not controlled by the 1199SEIU Family of Funds. The information you provide does not transfer to those websites. We do not assume responsibility for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of those sites.
The 1199SEIU Family of Funds reserves the right to change the web privacy statement from time to time. If we make any substantial changes in the way we use your personal information, we will notify you by posting a prominent announcement on our site. The privacy statement is not intended to and does not imply any contractual or other legal rights in respect to the 1199SEIU Family of Funds or any other party.
HIPAA
As required by HIPAA, this notice describes how health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information.
Q. What is HIPAA?
A. HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a law that became effective April 14, 2003. It establishes national standards to protect the privacy and security of your health information and requires the Fund to protect the confidentiality of all claims records and other individually identifiable information used or disclosed by the Fund. As required by HIPAA, we have prepared this explanation of how the Fund must protect the privacy of your health information and how HIPAA allows the Fund to use or disclose that information.
Q. Hasn't the Fund always protected my health information?
A. Yes, and while the Fund has always kept your health information private and confidential, there are now additional safeguards you should know about under this new law.
Q. What are these additional safeguards?
A. Under HIPAA, the Fund may continue to disclose health information to doctors, hospitals, pharmacies or other providers as it relates to your health benefits. In general, the Fund may also continue to communicate with you, the member, about the health benefits of your dependents (i.e. your spouse and your children).
In some situations the Fund may not be able to release information to others, such as family members, friends or union representatives, unless you give the Fund permission by signing an authorization form, available at (646) 473-9200 ((800) 575-7771 outside New York City) or in the Forms & Resources section of this website. You can cancel or change your authorization at any time.
How may we use information about you?
To conduct health care operations
The Fund will continue to use health related information for claims payment, and various other health care operations such as determining eligibility and coordination of benefits, quality assessment and utilization review, appeals, fraud and abuse programs, and other general administrative activities.
As required by law
The Fund is required to retain our records of the care provided to you, and will disclose information when required by federal, state, or local law.
In the event of a serious threat to health or safety
The Fund may disclose health information if the Fund believes that such disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or to the health and safety of the public.
Research and other uses of medical information
The Fund may disclose health information for certain limited research projects consistent with Fund objectives, after the Fund has received assurances from the research institution's internal review board to ensure that safeguards are in place to protect your privacy.
The Fund has designated a Privacy Officer for all issues regarding your HIPAA privacy rights. All requests must be made in writing to:
HIPAA Privacy Officer
1199SEIU Benefit Funds
330 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or with the Fund's Privacy Officer. You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Your Rights
Right to inspect and copy information
You have the right to inspect and request a copy of health information that the Fund maintains about you. You also have the right to receive a summary of certain non-routine disclosures of your health information. Note: Such disclosures will not be provided for events prior to HIPAA's effective date. The Fund may charge a reasonable fee for copying and mailing the information.
Right to correct your information
If for some reason you believe that the health information maintained by the Fund is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that it be corrected. You must provide a reason supporting your request.
Right to request confidential communications
You have the right to use an address other than your regular mailing address to send communications involving your health information. Please send your request to the Fund and the Fund will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to request restrictions
You have the right to restrict how the Fund uses or discloses health information about you. If you request a restriction, you must specify what information you want restricted, and in what way. The Fund is not required to agree to a requested restriction.
Right to a paper copy of this Notice
You have a right to receive a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have received this Notice previously.