What are the key components provided by HIPAA?

The correct answer highlights the significant focus of HIPAA on the privacy and security of health information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted to establish standards for protecting sensitive patient information. This legislation sets forth regulations that allow patients to have control over their health data and mandates that healthcare providers and entities implement safeguards to ensure that this information is kept secure from unauthorized access.

The privacy component ensures that patients' medical records and personal health information are handled confidentially, while the security aspect requires covered entities to adopt various administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. These measures are essential for maintaining patient trust in the healthcare system and ensuring compliance with legal standards.

Other choices, while related to the broader healthcare context, do not directly reflect the core objectives of HIPAA. For instance, insurance for low-income patients pertains more to different legislative programs, universal healthcare systems cover a broader political and economic philosophy, and protections against medical negligence fall under malpractice laws rather than HIPAA's specific focus on health information.