How does crediting for prior coverage work under HIPAA?

Most plans use the standard method of crediting coverage.

Under the standard method, you receive credit for your previous coverage that occurred without a break in coverage of 63 days or more.  Any coverage occurring prior to a break in coverage of 63 days or more is not credited against a preexisting condition exclusion period.

To illustrate, suppose an individual had coverage for 2 years followed by a break in coverage of 70 days and then resumed coverage for 8 months.  That individual would only receive credit for 8 months of coverage; no credit would be given for the 2 years of coverage prior to the break in coverage of 70 days.