WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 628

(4) THE PROVISIONS OF § 704 OF THIS SUBTITLE WHICH REQUIRE AN
EMPLOYER TO MAKE DEPENDENT COVERAGE AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES WITHOUT
REQUIRING AN EMPLOYER TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PREMIUM
PAYMENTS FOR THAT DEPENDENT COVERAGE.

704.

(a)      (1) A carrier shall issue its health benefit plans to any group or individual
that meets the requirements of this subsection.

(2)      (I) NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE CONSTRUED TO
REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER OR GROUP TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREMIUM PAYMENTS
FOR COVERAGE OF DEPENDENTS FOR AN EMPLOYEE.

[(2)] (II) To be covered under a health benefit plan offered by a carrier, a
group or individual shall:

[(i)] 1. Elect to be covered under the plan;

[(ii)]2. Agree to make the required premium payments; [and]

3.        AGREE TO OFFER COVERAGE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ANY LATE ENROLLEE OR OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBTITLE, TO ANY
DEPENDENTS OF AN EMPLOYEE WHEN COVERAGE IS SOUGHT BY THE EMPLOYEE;

4.        AGREE TO COLLECT PREMIUM PAYMENTS FROM THE
EMPLOYEE THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS FOR COVERAGE OF THE EMPLOYEE
AND THE DEPENDENTS AND TRANSMIT THOSE PREMIUM PAYMENTS TO THE
CARRIER; AND

[(iii)] 5. Satisfy the other reasonable provisions of the plan as
approved by the Commissioner.

(3)     Any requirement used by a carrier in determining whether to provide
coverage to a group, including requirements for minimum participation of the group, shall
be applied uniformly among all groups with the same number of members applying for
coverage or receiving coverage from the carrier.

(4)      A carrier may only vary application of minimum participation of group
members by the size of the group.

(5)      A carrier may not require minimum employer contributions.

(b)     A carrier that offers coverage to a group shall offer coverage to all of its
members.

(c)      (1) A health maintenance organization need not offer coverage:

(i) To an individual or group that is not located in the health
maintenance organization's approved service areas;

(ii) To a member of a group who does not reside within the health
maintenance organization's approved service areas; or

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