4010

VETOES

(3)  SHALL PERMIT THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUCH AMOUNT IN
MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS IF SO ELECTED BY THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY
BENEFICIARY; AND

(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.

(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, A QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY 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 THE 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 QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY
OR AN 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.

(I) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL AFFECT OR IN ANY WAY
LIMIT A QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY'S RIGHT TO CONVERSION
PRIVILEGES UNDER A GROUP CONTRACT.