Under guidance issued by federal regulators in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Highmark is no longer required to issue HIPAA certificates of creditable coverage for coverage terminations that have an effective date on or after Jan. 1, 2015.
Because the ACA rule banning pre-existing condition limitations, effective in 2014, was based upon groups’ or the member’s plan or policy year, HIPAA certificates were only required through Dec. 31, 2014.
Therefore, there will be no circumstances in which a certificate of creditable coverage will be needed for a coverage termination that took effect after Dec. 31, 2014.