Ch. 294

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(H) "ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL:

(1) (I) FOR WHOM, AS OF THE DATE ON WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL
SEEKS COVERAGE UNDER THIS SUBTITLE, THE AGGREGATE OF THE PERIODS OF
CREDITABLE COVERAGE IS 18 OR MORE MONTHS; AND

(II) WHOSE MOST RECENT PRIOR CREDITABLE COVERAGE WAS
UNDER AN EMPLOYER SPONSORED PLAN, GOVERNMENTAL PLAN, CHURCH PLAN,
OR HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN OFFERED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THESE PLANS;

(2) WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE UNDER:

(I) AN EMPLOYER SPONSORED PLAN;

(II) PART A OR PART B OF TITLE XVIII OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY

ACT;

(III) A STATE PLAN UNDER TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY

ACT; OR

(TV) A HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN;

(3) WHO HAS NOT HAD THE MOST RECENT PRIOR CREDITABLE
COVERAGE DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION TERMINATED
FOR NONPAYMENT OF PREMIUMS OR FRAUD BY THE INDIVIDUAL; AND

(4) WHO, IF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN OFFERED THE OPTION OF
CONTINUATION COVERAGE UNDER A STATE OR FEDERAL CONTINUATION
PROVISION:

(I) HAS ELECTED THAT COVERAGE; AND

(II) HAS EXHAUSTED THAT COVERAGE.

(I) "ENROLLMENT DATE" MEANS THE DATE ON WHICH:

(1) AN INDIVIDUAL ENROLLS IN A HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN; OR

(2) THE FIRST DAY OF THE WAITING PERIOD BEFORE WHICH THE
INDIVIDUAL MAY ENROLL

(J) "GOVERNMENTAL PLAN" MEANS A PLAN AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(32) OF
THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974 AND ANY FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTAL PLAN.

(K) "EMPLOYER SPONSORED PLAN" MEANS AN EMPLOYEE WELFARE BENEFIT
PLAN THAT PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE TO EMPLOYEES OR THEIR DEPENDENTS, AND
IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE REGULATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974.

(L) (1) "HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN" MEANS A: .

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