HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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(4)  SHALL BE IDENTICAL TO THE COVERAGE OFFERED UNDER
THE GROUP CONTRACT TO SIMILARLY SITUATED INDIVIDUALS WHERE THERE
HAS BEEN NO APPLICABLE CHANGE IN STATUS; AND

(5)  SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT
CHILDREN OF THE INSURED IF:

(I)  THE GROUP CONTRACT PROVIDES BENEFITS FOR
SPOUSES AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN; AND

(II)  THE INSURED'S SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT
CHILDREN WERE COVERED UNDER THE GROUP CONTRACT PRIOR TO THE
APPLICABLE CHANGE IN STATUS.

(F)  (1) THE ELECTION PERIOD FOR THE COVERAGE PROVIDED UNDER
THIS SECTION SHALL BEGIN WITH THE DATE ON WHICH THERE HAS BEEN AN
APPLICABLE CHANGE IN STATUS AND END NO SOONER THAN 45 DAYS AFTER
SUCH DATE.

(2) TO ELECT THE COVERAGE PROVIDED UNDER THIS
SECTION, THE INSURED SHALL SUBMIT A SIGNED ELECTION NOTIFICATION
FORM TO THE EMPLOYER DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD.

(G)  (1) EVERY CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO AN INSURED UNDER A
GROUP CONTRACT SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT, IN A MANNER AND FORM
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER, WHICH ADVISES THE INSURED OF THE
FOLLOWING:

(I)  THE AVAILABILITY OF BENEFITS UNDER THIS
SECTION;

(II)  A SUMMARY OF THE ELIGIBILITY FOR AND
DURATION OF SUCH BENEFITS; AND

(III)  THE PROCEDURE FOR MAKING AN ELECTION TO
RECEIVE SUCH BENEFITS SHOULD AN APPLICABLE CHANGE IN STATUS
OCCUR.

(2) THE EMPLOYER SHALL,     WITHIN 14 DAYS FOLLOWING

RECEIPT OF A REQUEST, DELIVER OR SEND    BY FIRST CLASS MAIL AN

ELECTION NOTIFICATION FORM TO THE     INSURED OR THE INSURED'S
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

(H) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL:

(1)  PUBLISH AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY IN. THE MARYLAND
REGISTER AND IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION IN EACH OF THE
COUNTIES OF THE STATE AND BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE APPRISING THE
PUBLIC OF THE COVERAGE REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION;

(2)  BY REGULATION PRESCRIBE THE FORM AND CONTENT OF
THE ELECTION NOTIFICATION FORM; AND

(3)  MAKE ELECTION NOTIFICATION FORMS AVAILABLE TO
EVERY EMPLOYER WHOSE EMPLOYEES ARE COVERED BY A GROUP CONTRACT.