A health benefit plan issuer may ask an individual who is an applicant for an individual health benefit plan or any other person or entity whether the applicant has previously been denied health benefit plan coverage only for the purpose of determining whether to ask for other information relating to a factor used by the insurer in underwriting the coverage. The insurer may not consider a determination that the applicant has or has not previously been denied health benefit plan coverage in underwriting the coverage for which the applicant has applied.