Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company of Texas
THIS NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES (“NOTICE”) DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
This Notice applies to the Group Dental and Eye Care Lines of Business within Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, First Reliance Life Insurance Company, and Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company of Texas (collectively “ Reliance Standard”). We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice as long as it remains in effect. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice as necessary and to make the new Notice effective for all personal health information maintained by us.
Reliance Standard Office Contact Information: To assert any of your rights with respect to this Notice, or to obtain an authorization form, please call 1-800-487-5553 and request the appropriate form. Please direct any questions about this Notice or requests for further information, or to file a complaint: The
Privacy Office, Attn. HIPAA Privacy, 1700 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3938
YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to:
Get a copy of your claims records
Correct your claims records
Request confidential communication
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will consider all reasonable requests, and must say “yes” if you tell us you would be in danger if we do not.
Ask us to limit the information we share
Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared your information
Get a copy of this Privacy Notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the Notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information. We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
Your choices
For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share . If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.
If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
We will not share your personal information for marketing purposes or sell your personal information unless you give us your written permission to do so.
OUR USES AND DISCLOSURES
How do we typically use or share your health information?
We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.
Run our organization
Example: We use health information about you to develop better coverage and service offerings for our insured members, including you.
Pay for your health services
Example : We share information about you with other health benefit plans that you might also be covered by to coordinate payment for your health services.
Administer your health plan
Example: Your company contracts with us to provide a health plan, and we provide your company with certain statistics to explain the premiums we charge.
HOW ELSE CAN WE USE OR SHARE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION?
We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways– usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html.
Help with public health and safety issues – We can share your health information in certain situations such as to help prevent disease or to report suspected abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
Comply with the law – We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.
Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests – We can share health information about you:
Respond to lawsuits and legal actions – We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
Our responsibilities
For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html .
This Revised Notice is effective 9/23/13.