What type of protection does Title 1 offer?

Title I of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) specifically deals with protecting health insurance coverage for individuals, particularly when they are transitioning between jobs or losing their job-based health coverage. One of its primary functions is to ensure that individuals with pre-existing conditions can still access health insurance coverage.

By addressing pre-existing conditions, Title I helps prevent health insurance companies from imposing exclusions or higher premiums on individuals based solely on their medical history. This means that people with chronic illnesses or previously diagnosed health conditions cannot be denied coverage or charged significantly more for their health insurance. Thus, Title I plays a critical role in safeguarding individuals' health insurance rights and ensuring that they are not discriminated against because of their health status.

The other options—protection against identity theft, preventing healthcare costs from rising, and ensuring timely access to medical records—do not align with the specific objectives of Title I. While these are important aspects within the broader scope of healthcare law and patient rights, Title I’s focus is specifically on health insurance coverage and pre-existing conditions.