Privacy Policy

Ameristead Health ("Ameristead," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website, apply for or enroll in our health insurance plans, or interact with our services.

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This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect through our website (www.ameristead.health), mobile applications, customer service communications, and any other related services (collectively, our "Services").

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Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services.

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Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our Services:

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Personal Information You Provide

When you apply for coverage, enroll in a plan, or interact with our Services, you may provide us with:

• Contact information (name, address, email address, phone number)

• Date of birth and Social Security number

• Employment and income information

• Dependent and family member information

• Medical history and health information

• Payment and billing information (credit card numbers, bank account information)

• Government-issued identification

• Information about your tobacco use

• Other information required for enrollment and eligibility determination

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Information Collected Automatically

When you access our Services, we may automatically collect:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)

• Usage data (pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns)

• Location information (general geographic location based on IP address)

• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

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Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Healthcare providers and facilities

• Pharmacy benefit managers

• Insurance brokers and agents

• Employers (for group coverage)

• Credit reporting agencies

• Government agencies (for eligibility verification)

• Medical information bureaus

• Other insurance companies

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How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

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Plan Administration and Operations

• Processing your application and enrollment

• Determining eligibility for coverage

• Administering your health insurance benefits

• Processing claims and payments

• Coordinating benefits with other insurers

• Managing your account and customer service inquiries

• Communicating with you about your coverage

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Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Complying with federal and state insurance regulations

• Meeting reporting requirements

• Responding to legal processes and government requests

• Fraud prevention and detection

• Underwriting and risk assessment

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Business Operations

• Improving our Services and website functionality

• Conducting research and analytics

• Marketing our products and services (with your consent where required)

• Quality assurance and training purposes

• Network management and provider relations

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Communication

• Sending you plan documents, notices, and updates

• Providing customer support

• Sending administrative communications

• Marketing communications (you may opt out at any time)

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How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

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With Your Consent

We will share your personal health information with third parties when you provide your written authorization.

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Service Providers

We share information with third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Claims administrators and processors

• Pharmacy benefit managers

• Healthcare providers and networks

• Billing and payment processors

• IT and data hosting providers

• Customer service and call center providers

• Marketing and analytics services

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These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

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Healthcare Providers

We share information with doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers to coordinate your care and process claims.

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Business Associates

We share information with business associates as defined under HIPAA who perform functions on our behalf or provide services to us.

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Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law, including:

• In response to court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes

• To comply with regulatory requirements

• To government agencies for program oversight

• To law enforcement for fraud investigation

• To protect our legal rights and property

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Business Transfers

If Ameristead is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

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Other Insurers

We may share information with other insurance companies for coordination of benefits and to prevent duplicate payments.

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Public Health and Safety

We may disclose information to public health authorities, for research purposes (with proper safeguards), or when necessary to prevent serious threats to health and safety.

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Your Rights Under HIPAA

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding your protected health information:

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Right to Access

You have the right to request and receive a copy of your health information that we maintain.

Right to Amend

You may request that we correct or amend your health information if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You have the right to receive a list of certain disclosures we have made of your health information.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may request that we communicate with you in a specific way or at a specific location.

Right to Receive a Paper Copy of This Notice

You have the right to receive a paper copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer using the contact information provided at the end of this policy.

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Data Security

We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Our security measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest

• Secure data centers with restricted physical access

• Regular security assessments and audits

• Employee training on data protection

• Access controls and authentication requirements

• Firewalls and intrusion detection systems

• Regular backup and disaster recovery procedures

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Despite our security measures, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

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Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Retention periods vary based on:

• Legal and regulatory requirements

• Business and operational needs

• The nature of the information

• Whether you are an active or former member

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When information is no longer needed, we securely destroy or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable laws.

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Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

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Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly

• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings

• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website

• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements

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You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our Services.

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Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

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Children's Privacy

Our Services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18, except as dependents on a parent's or guardian's policy. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 without parental consent.

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State-Specific Privacy Rights

Depending on your state of residence, you may have additional privacy rights under state law.

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California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

• The right to know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell

• The right to request deletion of your personal information

• The right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information (we do not sell personal information)

• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

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Other State Rights

Residents of other states may have similar rights under applicable state privacy laws. Please contact us to learn more about your state-specific privacy rights.

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Do Not Track Signals

Our website does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" signals from web browsers. We may adopt a standard for responding to such signals in the future.

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Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website

• Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy

• Sending you a notification (for material changes)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

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Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Phone: (321) 421-7283

Email: support@ameristead.health

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Notice of Privacy Practices

In addition to this Privacy Policy, we are required by HIPAA to provide you with a Notice of Privacy Practices that describes in more detail how we may use and disclose your protected health information. You may request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices by contacting us using the information above.