After 18 months of COBRA, does an ex-employee only have 63 days to seek individual insurance coverage for an insurance company to be obligated under HIPAA? As far as I understand, HIPAA guarantees that a person who has had 18 months of "credible continous coverage" through a group health plan (without a break of 63 or mores days) has a right to purchase insurance in the individual market (subject to other factors). If this is true, how is the individual notified that when his COBRA benefits are exhausted, he or she has 63 days to get individual insurance?

An employer does not have to provide employees or former employees with the option to convert to an individual policy and it seems that most do not offer an option after COBRA is exhausted. You may want to check with state law regarding options for a COBRA participant to purchase individual coverage.