When insurance professionals decide to partner with an answering service, there is a lot more to consider than which company has the best technology, the friendliest live agents, or the lowest prices. Depending on which type of insurance your business offers, you may need to partner with a HIPAA-compliant answering service.
Does my insurance business need a HIPAA-compliant answering service?
The simple answer to this question is this: If your insurance company handles sensitive medical data, the answering service that you partner with must be HIPAA-compliant. Many of the best insurance answering services are HIPAA-compliant, but this does not mean that all of them are. While it may be tempting to save money by partnering with a provider that isn’t, doing so can end up costing you money, stress, and your reputation.
When shopping around for an insurance answering service, here are some reasons to partner with one that is HIPAA-compliant:
It’s the law. If your insurance business handles sensitive medical data, the insurance answering service that you work with is required by law to be HIPAA-compliant. Medical practices, health insurance companies, and any other insurance companies handling medical data must adhere to specific guidelines outlined by HIPAA. These guidelines help to ensure that all personal health information remains private and protected. Additionally, any third-party vendors that these businesses partner with must also be HIPAA-compliant.
It shows that you value the privacy and trust of your policyholders. People trust medical professionals, and often share the most private information about their lives and bodies with them. As an insurance professional, you may have access to some of this information, and so might the live agents from your answering service. Partnering with a HIPAA-compliant insurance answering service ensures that all health information remains private and that the trust of your policyholders never gets violated.
The fines for violations can be very costly. HIPAA guidelines and rules are not common knowledge. Unless an individual has received the proper training, mistakes are likely to happen. Failing to follow HIPAA’s strict guidelines can cause your insurance business to be hit with hefty fines costing as much as $50,000 per violation.
A HIPAA-compliant insurance answering service prioritizes data security to maintain the privacy of your policyholders. The live agents handling your calls receive continuous training to ensure that they are up to date on all HIPAA requirements, and they fully understand the procedures that are in place in the event of a data breach.
It’s not worth the risk. You have spent years cultivating your business, your reputation, and your policyholders’ trust. Do you really want to destroy everything you have built with HIPAA violations?
The best HIPAA-compliant answering service
If you’re ready to partner with a HIPAA-compliant answering service, look no further than Answering Service Care. As a leading answering service since 1974, we have partnered with hundreds of insurance companies and professionals. Our educated, trained live agents will provide your callers with compassionate care while also protecting their private information. To get started, call us (800) 430-6511 or contact us.
