Final answer:
HIPAA portability rules ensure individuals changing group medical plans maintain continuous health coverage and are protected from discrimination based on health status, without waiting periods for enrollment in new plans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to how the HIPAA portability rules apply to an individual who changes from one group medical plan to another. Under HIPAA, which was passed into law in 1996, there are protections in place that ensure the continuity of health coverage when an individual transitions from one employer's health plan to another. This includes prohibiting discrimination based on health status and providing the right for individuals to enroll in a new group health plan without a waiting period if they have had continuous coverage. In addition to privacy protections, which mandate the confidentiality of patient information, HIPAA's portability provisions are designed to protect employees from losing their health coverage when they change jobs.