We have reviewed the HIPAA law and related final regulations to ensure full and timely compliance of systems and procedures with applicable HIPAA requirements.
Privacy Rule
We have reviewed the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pursuant to HIPAA and HITECH and comply with these regulations for impacted products.
Please note that the majority of our products are exempt from HIPAA mandates. For example, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life, Supplemental Disability, Accident and Critical Illness coverages are excluded from the HIPAA privacy regulations. However, certain products are covered including Long Term Care and various “medical” plans such as Cancer Assist from VB portfolios or Dental policies (hereafter, “covered products”).
For Long Term Care and other covered products under the HIPAA privacy regulations, we have implemented compliance, amending service provider (business associate) agreements, developing and distributing privacy notices, to covered policyholders, and developing and revising Policies and Procedures. We are also using HIPAA compliant authorizations during our underwriting and claims processes to facilitate collection of health information from health care providers who are covered by HIPAA.
We are continuously enhancing our Enterprise Security Framework. This provides us with a unified security framework that provides the direction to ensure the availability, integrity and accuracy of company assets, customer data, and personally identifiable information. The framework also provides the foundation that enables secure access to company assets by employees, customers and business partners anytime from anywhere. “Components include, but are not limited to:”
- Security policies, procedures and guidelines
- Security awareness and training
- Risk assessment and management
- Data classification
- Security monitoring and reporting
- Incident response/management
- Security consulting
- Security auditing
- Implementation/utilization of the security tools of the trade.
We use the Information Security Standards of the ISO 27002 as well as HIPAA security requirements as guides to the development of this framework. Our goal is to be in compliance with these standards by the compliance date.
Electronic data interchange
Federal regulations adopted under HIPAA establish “Standard Transactions and Code Sets” for the sharing of certain data by electronic means. These standards for data elements, code sets and formats are to be used by covered entities when those entities use EDI to conduct certain transactions (“covered transactions”) for insurance products that are covered by HIPAA (“covered products”). Covered Entities include certain insurers to the extent their insurance products are Covered Products. “Covered Transactions” are certain HHS defined transfers, via electronic media, of information to carry out financial or administrative activities related to covered products.
We have undertaken an extensive review and inventory of products and data transfers to verify those within the scope of the HIPAA Rules. We have developed policies and procedures so that Unum is capable of conducting Covered Transactions with respect to our covered products using the mandated Standard Transactions and Code Sets.
Web Site Terms and Conditions of Use
- Terms
By accessing this web site, you are agreeing to be bound by these web site Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this web site are protected by applicable copyright and trade mark law. - Use License
Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the materials (information or software) on United Advantage Agency web site for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:
- modify or copy the materials;
- use the materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);
- attempt to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on United Advantage Agency web site;
- remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the materials; or
- transfer the materials to another person or “mirror” the materials on any other server.
This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by United Advantage Agency at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of these materials or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.
- Disclaimer
The materials on United Advantage Agency web site are provided “as is”. United Advantage Agency makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, United Advantage Agency does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet web site or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site. - Limitations
In no event shall United Advantage Agency or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on United Advantage Agency Internet site, even if United Advantage Agency or a United Advantage Agency authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you. - Revisions and Errata
The materials appearing on United Advantage Agency’s web site could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. United Advantage Agency does not warrant that any of the materials on its web site are accurate, complete, or current. United Advantage Agency may make changes to the materials contained on its web site at any time without notice. United Advantage Agency does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials. - Links
United Advantage Agency has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Internet web site and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by United Advantage Agency of the site. Use of any such linked web site is at the user’s own risk. - Site Terms of Use Modifications
United Advantage Agency may revise these terms of use for its web site at any time without notice. By using this web site you are agreeing to be bound by the then current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use. - Governing LawAny claim relating to United Advantage Agency’s web site shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
General Terms and Conditions applicable to Use of a Web Site.
Privacy Policy
Your privacy is very important to us. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following outlines our privacy policy.
- Before or at the time of collecting personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected.
- We will collect and use of personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by us and for other compatible purposes, unless we obtain the consent of the individual concerned or as required by law.
- We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
- We will collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the individual concerned.
- Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
- We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.
- We will make readily available to customers information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.