Which federal law ensures that Bill won't be denied coverage when he switches health plans?

The correct choice is based on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which provides protection for individuals regarding the portability of health insurance coverage. One of the primary objectives of HIPAA is to ensure that individuals do not face discrimination or denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions when they switch health plans.

HIPAA establishes standards that health plans must adhere to, which promote the continuity of coverage. This means that if Bill switches his health plan, he cannot be denied coverage based on his previous medical history as long as he meets the specific criteria related to enrollment and prior coverage.

In addition to addressing issues of portability, HIPAA also includes provisions that protect individuals' medical records and personal health information, ensuring privacy and security.

The other laws mentioned serve different purposes. For instance, COBRA pertains to the continuation of health benefits for employees and their families after qualifying events, while ERISA regulates employee benefit plans but does not specifically address coverage denials when changing plans. FMLA provides job-protected leave for family and medical reasons and is unrelated to health insurance coverage changes. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why HIPAA is the appropriate federal law in this context.