Bill Text: NY S05469 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to the coverage for a dependent child; defines "dependent child" as an unmarried child through age 29 of an employee or member insured under a group contract.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - REFERRED TO INSURANCE [S05469 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-S05469-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         5469
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                      May 8, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sens. BRESLIN, DUANE, ESPADA, HASSELL-THOMPSON, ONORATO,
         STAVISKY, STEWART-COUSINS -- (at request  of  the  Governor)  --  read
         twice  and  ordered  printed,  and when printed to be committed to the
         Committee on Insurance
       AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation  to  the  coverage  of  a
         dependent child
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended  by  adding  a
    2  new subsection (r) to read as follows:
    3    (R)(1)  AS  USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "DEPENDENT CHILD" MEANS AN UNMAR-
    4  RIED CHILD THROUGH AGE TWENTY-NINE OF  AN  EMPLOYEE  OR  MEMBER  INSURED
    5  UNDER A GROUP CONTRACT, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL DEPENDENCE, WHO IS NOT A
    6  NAMED  INSURED  UNDER  ANY  OTHER  GROUP  CONTRACT  OR  GROUP REMITTANCE
    7  CONTRACT AND WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE UNDER TITLE XVIII  OF  THE
    8  UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY ACT (MEDICARE).
    9    (2) IN ADDITION TO THE CONVERSION PRIVILEGE AFFORDED BY SUBSECTION (E)
   10  OF  THIS  SECTION  AND THE CONTINUATION PRIVILEGE AFFORDED BY SUBSECTION
   11  (M) OF THIS SECTION, EVERY GROUP CONTRACT DELIVERED OR ISSUED FOR DELIV-
   12  ERY IN THIS STATE THAT PROVIDES HOSPITAL, SURGICAL OR  MEDICAL  COVERAGE
   13  FOR  OTHER  THAN SPECIFIC DISEASES OR ACCIDENTS ONLY, AND WHICH PROVIDES
   14  DEPENDENT COVERAGE THAT TERMINATES  AT  A  SPECIFIED  AGE,  SHALL,  UPON
   15  APPLICATION  OF THE EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD, AS SET FORTH IN
   16  SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) OR (C) OF THIS  PARAGRAPH,  PROVIDE  COVERAGE  TO  THE
   17  DEPENDENT  CHILD  AFTER  THAT  SPECIFIED AGE AND THROUGH AGE TWENTY-NINE
   18  WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF INSURABILITY, SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDI-
   19  TIONS OF THE GROUP CONTRACT AND THE FOLLOWING:
   20    (A) AN EMPLOYER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY ALL OR PART OF  THE  COST
   21  OF COVERAGE FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION;
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD12007-02-9
       S. 5469                             2
    1    (B) AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD WHO WISHES TO ELECT CONTIN-
    2  UATION OF COVERAGE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY REQUEST THE CONTINUA-
    3  TION IN WRITING:
    4    (I)  WITHIN  SIXTY  DAYS  FOLLOWING  THE DATE COVERAGE WOULD OTHERWISE
    5  TERMINATE DUE TO REACHING THE SPECIFIED  AGE  SET  FORTH  IN  THE  GROUP
    6  CONTRACT;
    7    (II)  WITHIN  SIXTY  DAYS AFTER MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENT
    8  CHILD STATUS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBSECTION WHEN COVERAGE
    9  FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD PREVIOUSLY TERMINATED; OR
   10    (III) DURING AN ANNUAL THIRTY-DAY OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD, AS DESCRIBED
   11  IN THE CONTRACT;
   12    (C) FOR TWELVE  MONTHS  AFTER  THE  INITIAL  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
   13  SUBSECTION, AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD MAY ELECT PROSPECTIVE
   14  COVERAGE  UNDER  THIS  SUBSECTION  FOR  A DEPENDENT CHILD WHOSE COVERAGE
   15  TERMINATED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE GROUP CONTRACT PRIOR  TO  THE  INITIAL
   16  EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION;
   17    (D)  AN  EMPLOYEE,  MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD ELECTING CONTINUATION AS
   18  DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION MUST PAY TO  THE  GROUP  CONTRACTHOLDER  OR
   19  EMPLOYER,  BUT  NOT  MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN ADVANCE,
   20  THE AMOUNT OF THE REQUIRED PREMIUM PAYMENT  ON  THE  DUE  DATE  OF  EACH
   21  PAYMENT.  THE  WRITTEN ELECTION OF CONTINUATION, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST
   22  PREMIUM PAYMENT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH PREMIUM PAYMENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS
   23  IN ADVANCE, MUST BE GIVEN TO THE GROUP CONTRACTHOLDER OR EMPLOYER WITHIN
   24  THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C)  OF  THIS  PARA-
   25  GRAPH.  ANY  PREMIUM RECEIVED WITHIN THE THIRTY-DAY PERIOD AFTER THE DUE
   26  DATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED TIMELY;
   27    (E) FOR ANY DEPENDENT CHILD ELECTING COVERAGE WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE
   28  DATE THE DEPENDENT CHILD WOULD OTHERWISE LOSE COVERAGE DUE TO REACHING A
   29  SPECIFIED AGE, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTINUATION COVERAGE SHALL  BE
   30  THE  DATE  COVERAGE  WOULD  HAVE OTHERWISE TERMINATED. FOR ANY DEPENDENT
   31  CHILD ELECTING TO RESUME COVERAGE DURING AN ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERI-
   32  OD OR DURING THE TWELVE-MONTH INITIAL OPEN ENROLLMENT  PERIOD  DESCRIBED
   33  IN SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTIN-
   34  UATION COVERAGE SHALL BE PROSPECTIVE NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE
   35  ELECTION AND PAYMENT OF FIRST PREMIUM;
   36    (F)  COVERAGE  FOR  A  DEPENDENT  CHILD PURSUANT THIS SUBSECTION SHALL
   37  CONSIST OF COVERAGE THAT IS IDENTICAL TO THE COVERAGE  PROVIDED  TO  THE
   38  EMPLOYEE  OR  MEMBER  PARENT. IF COVERAGE IS MODIFIED UNDER THE CONTRACT
   39  FOR ANY GROUP OF SIMILARLY  SITUATED  EMPLOYEES  OR  MEMBERS,  THEN  THE
   40  COVERAGE  SHALL  ALSO  BE  MODIFIED IN THE SAME MANNER FOR ANY DEPENDENT
   41  CHILD;
   42    (G) COVERAGE SHALL TERMINATE ON THE FIRST TO OCCUR OF THE FOLLOWING:
   43    (I) THE DATE THE DEPENDENT CHILD NO LONGER MEETS THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF
   44  PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBSECTION;
   45    (II)  THE  END  OF THE PERIOD FOR WHICH PREMIUM PAYMENTS WERE MADE, IF
   46  THERE IS A FAILURE TO MAKE A REQUIRED PREMIUM PAYMENT WITHIN THE  PERIOD
   47  OF GRACE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; OR
   48    (III)  THE  DATE  ON  WHICH  THE  GROUP CONTRACT IS TERMINATED AND NOT
   49  REPLACED BY COVERAGE UNDER ANOTHER GROUP CONTRACT;
   50    (H) THE INSURER SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF THE CONTINUATION
   51  PRIVILEGE DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION AND THE TIME PERIOD IN  WHICH  TO
   52  REQUEST CONTINUATION TO THE EMPLOYEE OR MEMBER:
   53    (I) IN EACH CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE;
   54    (II)  AT LEAST SIXTY DAYS PRIOR TO TERMINATION AT THE SPECIFIED AGE AS
   55  PROVIDED IN THE CONTRACT;
       S. 5469                             3
    1    (III) AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS BEFORE THE ANNUAL  OPEN  ENROLLMENT  PERIOD
    2  PERMITTING  AN  EMPLOYEE,  MEMBER  OR  DEPENDENT CHILD TO MAKE A WRITTEN
    3  ELECTION FOR COVERAGE PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (B)  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH;
    4  AND
    5    (IV)  THIRTY  DAYS  OR  LESS  FROM  THE INITIAL EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
    6  SUBSECTION, WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION CONCERNING A  DEPENDENT  CHILD'S
    7  OPPORTUNITY,  FOR  TWELVE  MONTHS  AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
    8  SUBSECTION, TO MAKE A  WRITTEN  ELECTION  TO  OBTAIN  COVERAGE  UNDER  A
    9  CONTRACT PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; AND
   10    (I)  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE  COMMUNITY  RATING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN
   11  SECTION THREE THOUSAND  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-ONE  OF  THIS  ARTICLE  AND
   12  SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AN INSUR-
   13  ER SHALL ESTABLISH A DISTINCT PREMIUM FOR CONTINUATION COVERAGE PROVIDED
   14  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBSECTION  THAT REFLECTS THE LOWER MORBIDITY OF THE
   15  POPULATION ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION.
   16    (3) AN INSURER SHALL SUBMIT REPORTS,  INCLUDING  QUARTERLY  ENROLLMENT
   17  REPORTS AND SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS THE SUPERINTENDENT MAY REQUIRE, NO
   18  LATER  THAN  THIRTY  DAYS FOLLOWING EACH CALENDAR QUARTER, IN A FORM AND
   19  MANNER TO BE PRESCRIBED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
   20    S 2. Section 4304 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
   21  subsection (m) to read as follows:
   22    (M)(1)  AS  USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "DEPENDENT CHILD" MEANS AN UNMAR-
   23  RIED CHILD THROUGH AGE TWENTY-NINE OF  AN  EMPLOYEE  OR  MEMBER  INSURED
   24  UNDER  A  GROUP REMITTANCE CONTRACT, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL DEPENDENCE,
   25  WHO IS NOT A NAMED INSURED UNDER  ANY  OTHER  GROUP  CONTRACT  OR  GROUP
   26  REMITTANCE  CONTRACT  AND  WHO  IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE UNDER TITLE
   27  XVIII OF THE UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY ACT (MEDICARE).
   28    (2) IN ADDITION TO THE CONVERSION PRIVILEGE AFFORDED BY SUBSECTION (E)
   29  OF THIS SECTION AND THE CONTINUATION PRIVILEGE AFFORDED  BY  SUBSECTIONS
   30  (E)  AND  (K)  OF  THIS  SECTION,  A HOSPITAL SERVICE, HEALTH SERVICE OR
   31  MEDICAL EXPENSE CORPORATION  OR  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATION  THAT
   32  PROVIDES COVERAGE FOR WHICH THE PREMIUMS ARE PAID BY THE REMITTING AGENT
   33  OF  A GROUP THAT PROVIDES DEPENDENT COVERAGE THAT TERMINATES AT A SPECI-
   34  FIED AGE SHALL, UPON APPLICATION OF THE EMPLOYEE,  MEMBER  OR  DEPENDENT
   35  CHILD,  AS  SET  FORTH  IN  SUBPARAGRAPH  (B)  OR (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH,
   36  PROVIDE COVERAGE TO THE DEPENDENT CHILD AFTER  THAT  SPECIFIED  AGE  AND
   37  THROUGH AGE TWENTY-NINE WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF INSURABILITY, SUBJECT TO ALL
   38  OF  THE  TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS OF THE GROUP REMITTANCE CONTRACT AND THE
   39  FOLLOWING:
   40    (A) AN EMPLOYER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY ALL OR PART OF  THE  COST
   41  OF COVERAGE FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION;
   42    (B) AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD WHO WISHES TO ELECT CONTIN-
   43  UATION OF COVERAGE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY REQUEST THE CONTINUA-
   44  TION IN WRITING:
   45    (I)  WITHIN  SIXTY  DAYS  FOLLOWING  THE DATE COVERAGE WOULD OTHERWISE
   46  TERMINATE DUE TO REACHING THE SPECIFIED  AGE  SET  FORTH  IN  THE  GROUP
   47  CONTRACT;
   48    (II)  WITHIN  SIXTY  DAYS AFTER MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPENDENT
   49  CHILD STATUS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBSECTION WHEN COVERAGE
   50  FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD PREVIOUSLY TERMINATED; OR
   51    (III) DURING AN ANNUAL THIRTY-DAY OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD AS  DESCRIBED
   52  IN THE CONTRACT;
   53    (C)  FOR  TWELVE  MONTHS  AFTER  THE  INITIAL  EFFECTIVE  DATE OF THIS
   54  SUBSECTION, AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD MAY ELECT PROSPECTIVE
   55  CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD  WHOSE
       S. 5469                             4
    1  COVERAGE  TERMINATED  UNDER  THE  TERMS OF THE GROUP REMITTANCE CONTRACT
    2  PRIOR TO THE INITIAL EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION;
    3    (D)  AN  EMPLOYEE,  MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD ELECTING CONTINUATION AS
    4  DESCRIBED IN THIS SUBSECTION MUST PAY TO THE GROUP  REMITTING  AGENT  OR
    5  EMPLOYER,  BUT  NOT  MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN ADVANCE,
    6  THE AMOUNT OF THE REQUIRED PREMIUM PAYMENT  ON  THE  DUE  DATE  OF  EACH
    7  PAYMENT.  THE  WRITTEN ELECTION OF CONTINUATION, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST
    8  PREMIUM PAYMENT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH PREMIUM PAYMENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS
    9  IN ADVANCE, MUST BE GIVEN TO THE GROUP REMITTING AGENT OR EMPLOYER WITH-
   10  IN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARA-
   11  GRAPH. ANY PREMIUM RECEIVED WITHIN THE THIRTY-DAY PERIOD AFTER  THE  DUE
   12  DATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED TIMELY;
   13    (E) FOR ANY DEPENDENT CHILD ELECTING COVERAGE WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE
   14  DATE THE DEPENDENT CHILD WOULD OTHERWISE LOSE COVERAGE DUE TO REACHING A
   15  SPECIFIED  AGE, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTINUATION COVERAGE SHALL BE
   16  THE DATE COVERAGE WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE  TERMINATED.  FOR  ANY  DEPENDENT
   17  CHILD ELECTING TO RESUME COVERAGE DURING AN ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERI-
   18  OD  OR  DURING THE TWELVE-MONTH INITIAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD DESCRIBED
   19  IN SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTIN-
   20  UATION COVERAGE SHALL BE PROSPECTIVE NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE
   21  ELECTION AND PAYMENT OF FIRST PREMIUM;
   22    (F) COVERAGE FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD PURSUANT TO THIS  SUBSECTION  SHALL
   23  CONSIST  OF  COVERAGE  THAT IS IDENTICAL TO THE COVERAGE PROVIDED TO THE
   24  EMPLOYEE OR MEMBER PARENT. IF COVERAGE IS MODIFIED  UNDER  THE  CONTRACT
   25  FOR  ANY  GROUP  OF  SIMILARLY  SITUATED  EMPLOYEES OR MEMBERS, THEN THE
   26  COVERAGE SHALL ALSO BE MODIFIED IN THE SAME  MANNER  FOR  ANY  DEPENDENT
   27  CHILD;
   28    (G) COVERAGE SHALL TERMINATE ON THE FIRST TO OCCUR OF THE FOLLOWING:
   29    (I)  THE  DATE THE DEPENDENT CHILD NO LONGER MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF
   30  PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBSECTION;
   31    (II) THE END OF THE PERIOD FOR WHICH PREMIUM PAYMENTS  WERE  MADE,  IF
   32  THERE  IS A FAILURE TO MAKE PAYMENT OF A REQUIRED PREMIUM PAYMENT WITHIN
   33  THE PERIOD OF GRACE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; OR
   34    (III) THE DATE ON WHICH THE GROUP REMITTANCE  CONTRACT  IS  TERMINATED
   35  AND NOT REPLACED BY COVERAGE UNDER ANOTHER GROUP REMITTANCE CONTRACT.
   36    (H)  THE  CORPORATION OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION SHALL PROVIDE
   37  WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF THE CONTINUATION  PRIVILEGE  DESCRIBED  IN  THIS
   38  SUBSECTION  AND  THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH TO REQUEST CONTINUATION TO THE
   39  EMPLOYEE OR MEMBER:
   40    (I) IN EACH CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE;
   41    (II) AT LEAST SIXTY DAYS PRIOR TO TERMINATION AT THE SPECIFIED AGE  AS
   42  PROVIDED IN THE CONTRACT;
   43    (III)  AT  LEAST  THIRTY DAYS BEFORE THE ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD
   44  PERMITTING AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT  CHILD  TO  MAKE  A  WRITTEN
   45  ELECTION  FOR  COVERAGE  PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS PARAGRAPH;
   46  AND
   47    (IV) THIRTY DAYS OR LESS FROM  THE  INITIAL  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
   48  SUBSECTION,  WITH  RESPECT TO INFORMATION CONCERNING A DEPENDENT CHILD'S
   49  OPPORTUNITY,  FOR  TWELVE  MONTHS  AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
   50  SUBSECTION,  TO  MAKE  A  WRITTEN  ELECTION  TO  OBTAIN COVERAGE UNDER A
   51  CONTRACT PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; AND
   52    (I) NOTWITHSTANDING THE COMMUNITY RATING  REQUIREMENTS  SET  FORTH  IN
   53  SECTION  THREE  THOUSAND  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-ONE  OF  THIS CHAPTER AND
   54  SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN OF THIS ARTICLE, A  CORPO-
   55  RATION  OR  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATION SHALL ESTABLISH A DISTINCT
   56  PREMIUM FOR CONTINUATION COVERAGE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO  THIS  SUBSECTION
       S. 5469                             5
    1  THAT  REFLECTS THE LOWER MORBIDITY OF THE POPULATION ELIGIBLE FOR COVER-
    2  AGE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION.
    3    (3)  A  CORPORATION  OR  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION SHALL SUBMIT
    4  REPORTS, INCLUDING QUARTERLY ENROLLMENT REPORTS AND SUCH OTHER  INFORMA-
    5  TION  AS  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  MAY  REQUIRE,  NO  LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
    6  FOLLOWING EACH CALENDAR QUARTER, IN A FORM AND MANNER TO  BE  PRESCRIBED
    7  BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
    8    S  3.  Section  4305  of  the insurance law is amended by adding a new
    9  subsection (l) to read as follows:
   10    (L)(1) AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "DEPENDENT CHILD" MEANS  AN  UNMAR-
   11  RIED  CHILD  THROUGH  AGE  TWENTY-NINE  OF AN EMPLOYEE OR MEMBER INSURED
   12  UNDER A GROUP CONTRACT, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL DEPENDENCE, WHO IS NOT A
   13  NAMED INSURED  UNDER  ANY  OTHER  GROUP  CONTRACT  OR  GROUP  REMITTANCE
   14  CONTRACT  AND  WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE UNDER TITLE XVIII OF THE
   15  UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY ACT (MEDICARE).
   16    (2) IN ADDITION TO THE CONVERSION PRIVILEGE AFFORDED BY SUBSECTION (D)
   17  OF THIS SECTION AND THE CONTINUATION PRIVILEGE  AFFORDED  BY  SUBSECTION
   18  (E)  OF  THIS  SECTION,  A  HOSPITAL  SERVICE, HEALTH SERVICE OR MEDICAL
   19  EXPENSE CORPORATION OR HEALTH  MAINTENANCE  ORGANIZATION  THAT  PROVIDES
   20  GROUP  COVERAGE UNDER WHICH DEPENDENT COVERAGE TERMINATES AT A SPECIFIED
   21  AGE SHALL, UPON APPLICATION OF THE EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT  CHILD,
   22  AS  SET  FORTH  IN  SUBPARAGRAPH  (B)  OR (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDE
   23  COVERAGE TO THE DEPENDENT CHILD AFTER THAT SPECIFIED AGE AND THROUGH AGE
   24  TWENTY-NINE WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF INSURABILITY,  SUBJECT  TO  ALL  OF  THE
   25  TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GROUP CONTRACT AND THE FOLLOWING:
   26    (A)  AN  EMPLOYER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY ALL OR PART OF THE COST
   27  OF COVERAGE FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION;
   28    (B) AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD WHO WISHES TO ELECT CONTIN-
   29  UATION OF COVERAGE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION MAY REQUEST THE CONTINUA-
   30  TION IN WRITING:
   31    (I) WITHIN SIXTY DAYS FOLLOWING  THE  DATE  COVERAGE  WOULD  OTHERWISE
   32  TERMINATE  DUE  TO  REACHING  THE  SPECIFIED  AGE SET FORTH IN THE GROUP
   33  CONTRACT;
   34    (II) WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER MEETING THE  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  DEPENDENT
   35  CHILD STATUS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBSECTION WHEN COVERAGE
   36  FOR THE DEPENDENT CHILD PREVIOUSLY TERMINATED; OR
   37    (III) DURING AN ANNUAL THIRTY-DAY OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD, AS DESCRIBED
   38  IN THE CONTRACT;
   39    (C)  FOR  TWELVE  MONTHS  AFTER  THE  INITIAL  EFFECTIVE  DATE OF THIS
   40  SUBSECTION, AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD MAY ELECT PROSPECTIVE
   41  CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD  WHOSE
   42  COVERAGE  TERMINATED  UNDER  THE TERMS OF THE GROUP CONTACT PRIOR TO THE
   43  INITIAL EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION;
   44    (D) AN EMPLOYEE, MEMBER OR DEPENDENT CHILD  ELECTING  CONTINUATION  AS
   45  DESCRIBED  IN  THIS  SUBSECTION  MUST PAY TO THE GROUP CONTRACTHOLDER OR
   46  EMPLOYER, BUT NOT MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ON A MONTHLY  BASIS  IN  ADVANCE,
   47  THE  AMOUNT  OF  THE  REQUIRED  PREMIUM  PAYMENT ON THE DUE DATE OF EACH
   48  PAYMENT. THE WRITTEN ELECTION OF CONTINUATION, TOGETHER WITH  THE  FIRST
   49  PREMIUM PAYMENT REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH PREMIUM PAYMENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS
   50  IN ADVANCE, MUST BE GIVEN TO THE GROUP CONTRACTHOLDER OR EMPLOYER WITHIN
   51  THE  TIME  PERIODS  SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (B) AND (C) OF THIS PARA-
   52  GRAPH. ANY PREMIUM RECEIVED WITHIN THE THIRTY-DAY PERIOD AFTER  THE  DUE
   53  DATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED TIMELY;
   54    (E) FOR ANY DEPENDENT CHILD ELECTING COVERAGE WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE
   55  DATE THE DEPENDENT CHILD WOULD OTHERWISE LOSE COVERAGE DUE TO REACHING A
   56  SPECIFIED  AGE, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTINUATION COVERAGE SHALL BE
       S. 5469                             6
    1  THE DATE COVERAGE WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE  TERMINATED.  FOR  ANY  DEPENDENT
    2  CHILD ELECTING TO RESUME COVERAGE DURING AN ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERI-
    3  OD  OR  DURING THE TWELVE-MONTH INITIAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD DESCRIBED
    4  IN SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTIN-
    5  UATION COVERAGE SHALL BE PROSPECTIVE NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE
    6  ELECTION AND PAYMENT OF FIRST PREMIUM;
    7    (F)  COVERAGE  FOR A DEPENDENT CHILD PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION SHALL
    8  CONSIST OF COVERAGE THAT IS IDENTICAL TO THE COVERAGE  PROVIDED  TO  THE
    9  EMPLOYEE  OR  MEMBER  PARENT. IF COVERAGE IS MODIFIED UNDER THE CONTRACT
   10  FOR ANY GROUP OF SIMILARLY  SITUATED  EMPLOYEES  OR  MEMBERS,  THEN  THE
   11  COVERAGE  SHALL  ALSO  BE  MODIFIED IN THE SAME MANNER FOR ANY DEPENDENT
   12  CHILD;
   13    (G) COVERAGE SHALL TERMINATE ON THE FIRST TO OCCUR OF THE FOLLOWING:
   14    (I) THE DATE THE DEPENDENT CHILD NO LONGER MEETS THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF
   15  PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBSECTION;
   16    (II)  THE  END  OF THE PERIOD FOR WHICH PREMIUM PAYMENTS WERE MADE, IF
   17  THERE IS A FAILURE TO MAKE PAYMENT OF A REQUIRED PREMIUM PAYMENT  WITHIN
   18  THE PERIOD OF GRACE DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; OR
   19    (III)  THE  DATE  ON  WHICH  THE  GROUP CONTRACT IS TERMINATED AND NOT
   20  REPLACED BY COVERAGE UNDER ANOTHER GROUP CONTRACT;
   21    (H) THE CORPORATION OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION  SHALL  PROVIDE
   22  WRITTEN  NOTIFICATION  OF  THE  CONTINUATION PRIVILEGE DESCRIBED IN THIS
   23  SUBSECTION AND THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH TO REQUEST CONTINUATION  TO  THE
   24  EMPLOYEE OR MEMBER:
   25    (I) IN EACH CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE;
   26    (II)  AT LEAST SIXTY DAYS PRIOR TO TERMINATION AT THE SPECIFIED AGE AS
   27  PROVIDED IN THE CONTRACT;
   28    (III) AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS BEFORE THE ANNUAL  OPEN  ENROLLMENT  PERIOD
   29  PERMITTING  AN  EMPLOYEE,  MEMBER  OR  DEPENDENT CHILD TO MAKE A WRITTEN
   30  ELECTION FOR COVERAGE PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (B)  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH;
   31  AND
   32    (IV)  THIRTY  DAYS  OR  LESS  FROM  THE INITIAL EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
   33  SUBSECTION, WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION CONCERNING A  DEPENDENT  CHILD'S
   34  OPPORTUNITY,  FOR  TWELVE  MONTHS  AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
   35  SUBSECTION, TO MAKE A  WRITTEN  ELECTION  TO  OBTAIN  COVERAGE  UNDER  A
   36  CONTRACT PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; AND
   37    (I)  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE  COMMUNITY  RATING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN
   38  SECTION THREE THOUSAND  TWO  HUNDRED  THIRTY-ONE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  AND
   39  SECTION  FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN OF THIS ARTICLE, A CORPO-
   40  RATION OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION  SHALL  ESTABLISH  A  DISTINCT
   41  PREMIUM  FOR  CONTINUATION COVERAGE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION
   42  THAT REFLECTS THE LOWER MORBIDITY OF THE POPULATION ELIGIBLE FOR  COVER-
   43  AGE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION.
   44    (3)  A  CORPORATION  OR  HEALTH  MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION SHALL SUBMIT
   45  REPORTS, INCLUDING QUARTERLY ENROLLMENT REPORTS AND SUCH OTHER  INFORMA-
   46  TION  AS  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  MAY  REQUIRE,  NO  LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
   47  FOLLOWING EACH CALENDAR QUARTER, IN A FORM AND MANNER TO  BE  PRESCRIBED
   48  BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
   49    S  4.  This  act  shall  take  effect  July 1, 2009 and shall apply to
   50  contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such
   51  date.
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