Federal law permits state, county, and local governments to exempt their employees in self-insured plans from some of the protections discussed previously in this chapter.  Public employers must make this choice annually.  When they do so, they are required to notify the federal government and specify which health insurance protections will not apply to their employees’ health insurance plan.

According to the latest list available from the federal government, several non-federal government employers have decided that certain health insurance protections will not apply to their employees.  (See box.)  If you have group health coverage through these employers, you should contact them for more information.  Other non-federal public employers in Oklahoma may have made this choice after this guide was written.  If you are not sure about your protections under your public employee health plan, you should contact your employer.

Oklahoma public employers electing to exempt their covered employees from HIPAA protections       
City of Miami
City of Muskogee
County of Oklahoma
Independent School District #30
Jackson County Memorial Hospital
Metropolitan Library System
Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service
Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board    
Union Public School District #9