New Rules Let People Keep Health Insurance

The government issued new regulations Tuesday that would make it easier for people who change jobs to keep their health insurance.

The regulations, which will be open to public comment for 90 days, implement last year’s health insurance portability act, which guarantees workers can keep their insurance even if they have chronic illnesses or other pre-existing medical conditions.

Workers who have had insurance for at least 12 months can change jobs without fear of losing coverage and they cannot be charged higher premiums than someone in good health.

The law takes effect July 1, meaning all health plans must offer insurance to job-changers when their next enrollment year begins. For most health plans, that is Jan. 1.

The Labor Department has gotten about 10,000 phone calls from people with questions about the new law, said Olena Berg, assistant secretary for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

For a free booklet answering questions about the law, call (800) 998-7542.