4006

VETOES

Group Health - Insurance Coverage of Surviving Spouses

FOR the purpose of requiring group health insurance contracts to
offer the spouse and dependent children of a deceased
employee the option to continue coverage; specifying the
eligibility for and duration of the continuation coverage;
specifying the maximum period a spouse or dependent child
may continue coverage; prohibiting continuation coverage
from being conditional upon evidence of insurability or
waiting periods; requiring continuation coverage to be
identical to coverage offered to similarly situated
individuals whose spouse is not deceased; specifying a time
period and procedure for the surviving spouse to elect
continuation coverage; requiring certificates issued under
group insurance contracts to specify the terms and
conditions of the continuation coverage; requiring the
Insurance Commissioner to publish certain notices and supply
and prescribe certain forms; specifying the maximum amount
which may be required to be paid in order to receive
continuation coverage; requiring the Secretary of Health and
Mental Hygiene to include notice of continuation coverage
when issuing a death certificate; requiring licensed funeral
directors to provide surviving spouses, immediate family
members, or authorized representatives notice in certain
cases; specifying that the provisions of this Act do not
affect or limit conversion rights; specifying that
insurers, employers and licensed funeral directors will not
be held liable in certain cases; making health maintenance
organizations subject to the continuation provisions;
modifying other provisions regarding continuation of group
health insurance benefits; defining certain terms; and
generally relating to group health insurance coverage.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 477K(d)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 354FF, 477GG, and 490G

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Health - General

Section 4-217

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Volume and 1985 Supplement)