(a) (1) For plan years beginning after June 30, 1997, a health benefit plan issued in connection with a group health plan may not impose a preexisting condition exclusion with respect to an employee or a dependent of an employee for losses incurred by the employee or dependent more than twelve months (or eighteen months for a late enrollee) after the earlier of the individual's date of enrollment in the health benefit plan or the first day of a waiting period for enrollment in the plan. Genetic information may not be treated as a condition for which a preexisting condition exclusion may be imposed absent a diagnosis of the condition related to the genetic information.
(2) A health benefit plan may impose a preexisting condition exclusion only if such condition relates to a physical or mental condition, regardless of its cause, for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received within the six-month period ending on the enrollee's enrollment date.