Ch. 35

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(6) THE DATE ON WHICH THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY
ELECTS TO TERMINATE COVERAGE UNDER THE GROUP CONTRACT;

(7) THE DATE ON WHICH THE EMPLOYER CEASES TO PROVIDE
BENEFITS TO ITS EMPLOYEES UNDER A GROUP CONTRACT; OR

(8) FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A QUALIFIED SECONDARY
BENEFICIARY BY REASON OF HAVING BEEN A DEPENDENT CHILD, THE DATE ON
WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD NO LONGER BE COVERED UNDER THE GROUP
CONTRACT IF THE INSURED HAD NOT DIED.

(D) NATURE OF CONTINUATION COVERAGE.
CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL:

(1) BE PROVIDED WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF INSURABILITY OR
ADDITIONAL WAITING PERIODS;

(2) REQUIRE THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY TO PAY TO
THE EMPLOYER AN AMOUNT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED:

(I) THE SUM OF THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION AND ANY
CONTRIBUTION THAT THE INSURED WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO PAY IF THE
INSURED HAD NOT DIED; AND

(II) A REASONABLE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE THAT IS SUBJECT TO
REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSIONER;

(3) ALLOW THE PAYMENT OF THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH
(2) OF THIS SUBSECTION IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS IF THE QUALIFIED
SECONDARY BENEFICIARY ELECTS TO DO SO; AND

(4) BE IDENTICAL TO THE COVERAGE OFFERED UNDER THE GROUP
CONTRACT TO SIMILARLY SITUATED INDIVIDUALS FOR WHOM THERE HAS NOT
BEEN A DEATH OF THE INSURED.

(E) ELECTION PERIOD.

(1) TO ELECT CONTINUATION COVERAGE PROVIDED UNDER THIS
SECTION, A QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY OR AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE SHALL SUBMIT A SIGNED ELECTION NOTIFICATION FORM TO THE
INSURED'S EMPLOYER DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD.

(2) THE ELECTION PERIOD FOR CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER
THIS SECTION BEGINS ON THE DATE OF THE DEATH OF THE INSURED AND ENDS AT
LEAST 45 DAYS AFTER THAT DATE.

(3) WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A REQUEST FOR AN ELECTION
NOTIFICATION FORM, THE EMPLOYER SHALL DELIVER OR SEND BY FIRST CLASS
MAIL THE ELECTION NOTIFICATION FORM TO THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY
BENEFICIARY OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.

(F) STATEMENT IN CERTIFICATE ISSUED TO INSURED.

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