Every policy containing a life insurance benefit shall contain a reasonable extension of such benefit upon discontinuance of the policy with respect to employees who become totally disabled while insured under the policy on or after the date this article becomes applicable to such policy and who continue to be totally disabled at the date of discontinuance of the policy. Every policy containing a loss of time benefit, a specific indemnity during hospital confinement, or a hospital, medical, or surgical expense benefit shall contain a reasonable extension of such benefits upon discontinuance of the policy with respect to employees or dependents who become totally disabled while insured under the policy on or after the date this article becomes applicable to such policy and who continue to be totally disabled at the date of discontinuance of the policy.

(a) Every policy containing a life insurance benefit which does not contain a disability benefit provision of any type (e.g. premium waiver extension, extended death benefit in event of total disability, or payment of income for a specified period during total disability), shall be deemed to include a reasonable extension of benefits upon discontinuance of the policy if it provides the totally disabled employee the same rights of conversion to an individual life insurance policy at the time of discontinuance of the policy that such employee would have had if his employment or association membership had terminated on the same date.

The rights of conversion specified above need not be provided with regard to any amount of insurance for which the employee becomes insured under any replacement coverage.

(b) Every policy containing a life insurance benefit which contains a disability benefit provision of any type shall be deemed to include a reasonable extension of benefits upon discontinuance of the policy if it provides:

(1) Such discontinuance does not affect the disability benefit; and

(2) The rights of conversion described in (a) above shall apply to the amount the individual is insured for at the termination of the disability benefit unless the disability benefit is a payment of income for a specified period, in which event the rights of conversion would apply to the amount of life insurance, if any, remaining after the payment of income; and

(3) With respect to any amounts of life insurance provided under the policy to which no disability benefit provision applies, the rights of conversion described in (a) above shall apply.

No extension of life insurance under either a disability benefit or the rights of conversion specified above need be provided with regard to any amount of insurance for which the employee becomes insured under any replacement coverage.

(c) Every policy providing benefits for loss of time or a specific indemnity during hospital confinement, shall be deemed to include a reasonable extension of such benefits upon discontinuance of the policy if such discontinuance does not affect the benefit provided.

(d) Every policy providing hospital, medical or surgical benefits on an expense-incurred or service basis shall be deemed to include a reasonable extension of such benefits upon discontinuance of the policy if it provides benefits for covered expenses directly relating to the condition causing total disability existing at the time premium payments for the employee or dependent cease and incurred during a period of not less than 12 months thereafter, which period shall not be interrupted by discontinuance of the policy.

That extension of benefits may be terminated at such time as the employee or dependent is no longer totally disabled or at such time as a succeeding carrier may elect to provide replacement coverage to that employee or dependent without limitation as to the disabling condition.

(e) The benefits payable during any extension of benefits may be subject to all limitations or restrictions contained in the policy.

(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 888, Sec. 3.)