Final answer:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) makes it possible for an employee to continue receiving health insurance from a former employer after changing jobs. HIPAA, along with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, significantly influence the availability and regulation of health insurance in the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
An employee who is able to receive health insurance from a former employer after changing jobs is benefiting from the protections afforded by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Passed into law in 1996, HIPAA is designed to ensure the portability of health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. It also sets the standards for privacy and protection of patient health information, requiring entities like insurance companies and healthcare providers to maintain strict confidentiality of patient records.
While HIPAA provides for the portability of health insurance, a more recent legislation, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, passed in 2010, aimed to overhaul the healthcare system, providing access to affordable health insurance for all Americans. The ACA includes provisions to assist individuals without employer-provided insurance to shop for insurance plans through the state marketplaces and offers subsidies based on income to make insurance more affordable. Moreover, the ACA helped guarantee coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions and mandated that everyone acquires some form of health insurance, with penalties for non-compliance.