A Table of Health Insurance Programs and Regulatory Agencies
Part 1: The Basic Tools, Chapter 1: The Health Insurance Maze Page 4
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Table 1 - Health Insurance Programs and Regulatory Agencies
| Program/Agency | Description |
| Medicare | Federal program designed to provide health insurance for the elderly and for some people under age 65 with disabilities |
| Medicaid | Joint federal/state program designed to provide health insurance coverage for peo pie whose incomes fall below the poverty line and for some people with disabilities |
| COBRA (Congressional Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) | Federal law that governs the continuation of health insur ance coverage for eligible individuals |
| ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) | Federal law that regulates the operation of self-funded plans |
| CHAMPUS (Civilian Health And Medical Program of the Uniformed Services) | Federal health insurance program for eligible retired armed forces personnel and for eligible family members |
| Self-Funded Plans | Plans sponsored by a cor poration, an association, a union, or a state or municipal government agency |
| HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration) | Regulates the operation of Medicare |
| Private Health Insurance Companies | There are more than 1,500 health insurance companies and managed care companies in the United States at present; a single company may offer several types of health insurance plans |
| Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration of the United States Department of Labor | Regulates self-funded plans; also regulates COBRA rules in relation to private health insurance plans |
| United States Public Health Service | Regulates COBRA rules in relation to health insurance plans sponsored by state or municipal government agencies |
| State Departments of Insurance, state Departments of Health, special state insurance boards | Regulate private health insurance programs, hospital-related health insurance is sues, and state-sponsored health insurance programs |
| State Health Insurance Programs | Health insurance programs designed to help senior citizens or people with disabilities purchase medications or medical equipment, or to provide low-cost health in surance to individuals whose incomes fall below the poverty line |
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