HIPAA protects a category of information known as protected health information (PHI). PHI covered under HIPAA includes:

Identifiable health information that is created or held by covered entities and their business associates.

Explanation:

HIPPA can be described as a policy which is made to protect and safeguard the information of patients. HIPPA ensures that the information provided by a patient to health care systems such as a hospital, insurance company etc are private and not to be disclosed to anyone. HIPPA takes strict actions against any disclosure of information by a health care system or provider for a patient. However, HIPPA policies allow that some general information can be passed for business such as certain information of a patient to a health insurance company.