Important Notices
Women’s Health & Cancer Rights
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA), signed into law on October 21, 1998, contains protections for patients who elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy. For plan participants and beneficiaries receiving benefits in connection with a mastectomy, plans offering coverage for a mastectomy must also cover reconstructive surgery and other benefits related to a mastectomy.
WHCRA:
- Applies to group health plans for plan years starting on or after October 21, 1998
- Applies to group health plans, health insurance companies or HMOs, if the plan or coverage provides medical and surgical benefits with respect to a mastectomy
- Requires coverage for reconstructive surgery in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient
Under WHCRA, mastectomy benefits must include coverage for:
- Reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed
- Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance
- Prostheses and physical complications at all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedemas
Under WHCRA, mastectomy benefits may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance consistent with those established for other benefits under the plan or coverage. If you would like more information on WHCRA benefits, call your plan administrator.
Notice of Privacy Practice
The Privacy Notice describes how protected medical information about you may be used and disclosed as well as how you can gain access to this information.
The Notice is made available to employees who are eligible to participate in The Lincoln Electric Company’s sponsored group health plans. Lincoln Electric is committed to protecting the confidentiality of any health information collected about an individual. This Notice describes how the Health Plan may use and disclose “protected health information” (PHI). In order for information to be considered “PHI”, it must meet three conditions:
- Information is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, employer, or health care clearinghouse
- Information relates past, present, or future physical or mental health condition of an individual; the provision of health care to an individual; or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual
- The information either identifies the individual or provides a reasonable basis for believing that it can be used to identify the individual
Lincoln Electric is required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to provide this Notice.
Medicare Part D Notice of Creditable Coverage
The U.S. Medicare Modernization Act of 2006 requires employers to provide a notice each year to Medicare eligible employees and dependents about the creditable coverage status of their prescription drug coverage.
Prescription drug coverage is considered creditable if it is expected to pay, on average, as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D). The prescription coverage offered through The Lincoln Electric Company is considered creditable.
