A group policy issued for delivery or renewed in this State which provides hospital, surgical, or major medical expense insurance, or any combination of these coverages, on an expense incurred basis must provide that an employee or member who has been insured continuously under the group policy for at least six months whose insurance under the group policy has been terminated for any reason other than nonpayment of the required contribution is entitled to continue coverage under the group policy for the fractional policy month remaining at termination plus six additional policy months. A group policy is considered to be a successor policy within the meaning of this section if the effective date of the coverage provided by it is sixty-two days or less after the date of termination of coverage of the prior carrier. The employee or member is not entitled to have his coverage continued if the employee or member was entitled under federal law to continuation of his coverage for a period of greater duration than provided by this section. Continuation of coverage is subject to the group policy or a successor policy remaining in force and the employee paying the entire group premium, including any portion usually paid by the former employer, before the date each month that the group policy month begins. Policies which provide benefits for other than hospital, surgical, major medical, or which provide benefits for specific diseases or accidental injuries only are not affected by this section.

A notification of the privilege to continue coverage after termination must be included in each certificate of coverage. In addition, the employer shall clearly and meaningfully advise an employee upon termination of the right to continue insurance and shall advise the employee of the amount of premium required and of the employee's responsibility to pay the premium each month before the date that the policy month begins. An employee is not entitled to continue coverage under the group if eligible for other group coverage which provides similar benefits nor if the person is eligible for medicare benefits provided by Title XVIII of the United States Social Security Act or of any successor acts. Any benefits, except extended benefits payable by the policy during the period of continuation, are considered secondary to benefits under any other group health policy that is in force on a person insured through this continuation privilege.

HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-35-946 [1978 Act No. 547, 1979 Act No. 149 Section 1] recodified as Section 38-71-770 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1989 Act No. 127, Section 9; 1991 Act No. 131, Section 10.