Title XI, SEC. 11005. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PORTABILITY. (a) Treatment of Preexisting Condition Exclusions. (1) In general. Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, a group health benefit plan may exclude coverage with respect to services related to treatment of a preexisting condition, but the period of such exclusion may not exceed 6 months. The exclusion of coverage shall not apply to services furnished to newborns or in the case of a plan that did not apply such exclusions as of the effective date of this title. (2) Crediting of previous coverage. (A) In general. A group health benefit plan shall provide that if an individual covered under such plan is in a period of continuous coverage (as defined in subparagraph (B)(i)) with respect to particular services as of the date of initial coverage under such plan, any period of exclusion of coverage with respect to a preexisting condition for such services or type of services shall be reduced by 1 month for each month in the period of continuous coverage. (B) Definitions. As used in this paragraph: (i) Period of continuous coverage. The term ``period of continuous coverage'' means, with respect to particular services, the period beginning on the date an individual is enrolled under a group or individual health benefit plan, self-insured plan, the medicare program, a State medicaid plan, or other health benefit arrangement which provides benefits with respect to such services and ends on the date the individual is not so enrolled for a continuous period of more than 3 months. (ii) Preexisting condition. The term ``preexisting condition'' means, with respect to coverage under a health benefits plan, a condition which has been diagnosed or treated during the 6-month period ending on the day before the first date of such coverage (without regard to any waiting period). (b) Waiting Periods. A self-insured plan, and an employer with respect to a group health insurance plan, may not discriminate among employees in the establishment of a waiting period before making health insurance coverage available based on the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, or lack of evidence of insurability, of the employee or the employee's dependents.