Many people with disabilities or other health conditions worry that if they change jobs, they will lose their health coverage. To lessen this worry, the U.S. Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which says that if an employer offers health coverage, that health plan cannot deny you coverage because of the status of your health. Among other things, HIPAA also limits the maximum amount of time you may have to wait for a pre-existing condition to be covered. HIPAA allows special enrollment in group health plans and it guarantees your right to purchase individual health coverage if you meet certain criteria. If your employer offers coverage to dependents, these rules extend to them as well. California has laws similar to HIPAA that, for some people, offer even further protections.