3208                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                    Ch. 658

Approved May 29, 1984.

CHAPTER 659

(House Bill 908)

AN ACT concerning

Group Health Insurance - Open Enrollment

FOR the purpose of requiring that group health insurance policies
provide continuous open enrollment for certain covered
individuals; providing who may be enrolled under continuous
open enrollment; providing qualifications and conditions for
eligible individuals; providing that evidence of
insurability may not be required for certain individuals;
providing that a continuous open enrollment privilege be
exercised within a certain period; and generally relating to
group health insurance policies.

BY adding to

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 472A 354Y and 472A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1983 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 48A - Insurance Code

354Y.

(A) ALL GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRACTS SHALL PROVIDE
CONTINUOUS OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING A MARRIED
EMPLOYEE WHO IS ENROLLED UNDER A GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRACT
TO ALTER THE TERMS OF THEIR COVERAGE TO INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEE'S
SPOUSE OR CHILDREN, IF THE SPOUSE LOSES COVERAGE UNDER ANOTHER
GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY DUE TO INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF
THE SPOUSE'S EMPLOYMENT. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION DOES NOT MEAN
TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.

(B) EVIDENCE OF INSURABILITY MAY NOT BE REQUIRED FOR A
SPOUSE WHO QUALIFIES FOR GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE UNDER
THIS SECTION.

(C) A MARRIED EMPLOYEE WHO WISHES TO ALTER THE TERMS OF
THEIR COVERAGE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL NOTIFY THEIR EMPLOYER NOT
MORE THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE COVERAGE OF THE
EMPLOYEE'S SPOUSE UNDER ANOTHER GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY
TERMINATES.