Ch. 35

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(6) "QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL

WHO IS:

(I) A BENEFICIARY UNDER THE GROUP CONTRACT AS THE
SPOUSE OF THE INSURED FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE
CHANGE IN STATUS; OR

(II) A DEPENDENT CHILD OF THE INSURED.

(7) "TERMINATION STATEMENT" MEANS WRITTEN NOTICE OF AN
EVENT SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION THAT IS:

(I) PROVIDED TO THE EMPLOYER ON A FORM THAT THE
COMMISSIONER PRESCRIBES; AND

(II) 1. SIGNED BY THE INSURED AND A QUALIFIED SECONDARY
BENEFICIARY DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (6)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION; OR

2. ACCOMPANIED BY THE INSURED'S SIGNED AND SWORN
AFFIDAVIT THAT VERIFIES ALL FACTS IN THE TERMINATION STATEMENT.

(B) REQUIRED.

(1) EACH GROUP CONTRACT IN FORCE ON THE DATE OF THE CHANGE
IN STATUS SHALL PROVIDE CONTINUATION COVERAGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS
SECTION.

(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, A QUALIFIED
SECONDARY BENEFICIARY IS ENTITLED TO CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER A
GROUP CONTRACT AFTER A CHANGE IN STATUS.

(3) PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY WHILE THE
INSURED IS NOT COVERED BY A GROUP CONTRACT.

(C) PERIOD OF CONTINUATION COVERAGE.

CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BEGIN ON THE DATE
OF THE CHANGE IN STATUS AND END ON THE EARLIEST OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) THE DATE ON WHICH THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY
BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS UNDER AN
INSURED OR SELF-INSURED GROUP HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM OR PLAN, OTHER
THAN THE GROUP CONTRACT, THAT IS WRITTEN ON AN EXPENSE-INCURRED BASIS
OR IS WITH A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION;

(2) THE DATE ON WHICH THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY
BECOMES ENTITLED TO BENEFITS UNDER TITLE XVIII OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY

ACT;

(3) THE DATE ON WHICH THE QUALIFIED SECONDARY BENEFICIARY
ACCEPTS HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL COVERAGE UNDER A NONGROUP
CONTRACT OR POLICY THAT IS WRITTEN ON AN EXPENSE-INCURRED BASIS OR IS
WITH A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION;

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