Ch. 297                                    1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(3)     "Dependent child" means an individual who:

(i) Is a child of the insured; and

(ii) Either was covered under the group insurance contract as a
qualified or an eligible dependent of the insured immediately prior to the applicable
change in status or was born to a qualified secondary beneficiary as defined in subsection
(a)(6)(i) of this section after the applicable change in status.

(4)     "Group contract" means:

(i) Any insurance contract or policy issued or delivered in this State to
the employer of the insured by a nonprofit health service Insurance plan or an insurance
company which provides group hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to the insured on an
expense-incurred basis; or

(ii) Any contract between the employer of the insured and a health-
maintenance organization certified under Title 19, Subtitle 7 of the Health - General
Article which provides group hospital, medical, or surgical benefits offered to the insured.

(5)     "Insured" means an employee who is a -resident of this State and covered
under a group insurance contract.

(6)     "Qualified secondary beneficiary" means, with respect to the insured, an
individual other than the insured who is:

(i) A beneficiary under the group contract as the spouse of the
insured for at least the 30-day period immediately preceding the applicable change in
status; or

(ii) A dependent child.

(7)     "Termination statement" means a written notice of an event specified in
subsection (c) of this section provided to the employer on a form prescribed by the
Commissioner which is:

(i) Signed by the insured and a qualified secondary beneficiary as
defined in subsection (a)(6)(i) of this section; or                               

(ii) .Accompanied by the insured's signed and sworn affidavit verifying
all facts therein.                                                                             

(b) (1) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a qualified secondary
beneficiary shall be entitled to benefits under a group contract after an applicable change
in status.

(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to any period the insured
is not covered by a group contract.

(c) Any coverage under this section shall be for a period beginning on the date of
an applicable change in status and ending on the earliest of any of the following:

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