Ch. 294 1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(3) ON THE REQUEST ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL MADE NOT LATER
THAN 24 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF CESSATION OF THE COVERAGE DESCRIBED
IN ITEM (1) OR (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION. WHICHEVER IS LATER.

(C) THE CERTIFICATION MAY BE PROVIDED AT A TIME CONSISTENT WITH
NOTICES REQUIRED UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE OR FEDERAL CONTINUATION
PROVISION.

(D) THE CERTIFICATION SHALL CONTAIN:

(1) WRITTEN CERTIFICATION OF THE PERIOD OF CREDITABLE
COVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, AND THE
COVERAGE, IF APPLICABLE, UNDER THE APPLICABLE STATE OR FEDERAL
CONTINUATION PROVISION; AND

(2) THE WAITING PERIOD, IF ANY, IMPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE
INDIVIDUAL FOR ANY COVERAGE UNDER THE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN.

(E) IF A GROUP HEALTH PLAN ENROLLS AN INDIVIDUAL FOR COVERAGE
UNDER THE PLAN AND THE INDIVIDUAL PROVIDES A CERTIFICATION OF
COVERAGE, THEN:

(1) ON REQUEST OF THE GROUP HEALTH PLAN, THE ENTITY THAT
ISSUED THE CERTIFICATION PROVIDED BY THE INDIVIDUAL PROMPTLY SHALL
DISCLOSE TO THE REQUESTING GROUP HEALTH PLAN, INFORMATION REGARDING
COVERAGE OF CLASSES AND CATEGORIES OF HEALTH BENEFITS AVAILABLE
UNDER THE ENTITY'S PLAN OR POLICY; AND

(2) THE ENTITY MAY CHARGE THE REQUESTING PLAN FOR THE
REASONABLE COST OF DISCLOSING THE INFORMATION.

15-1404.

(A) IN DETERMINING A PERIOD OF CREDITABLE COVERAGE, ANY PERIOD
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS IN A WAITING PERIOD FOR ANY COVERAGE UNDER A
GROUP HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN OR AN AFFILIATION PERIOD MAY NOT BE TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT IN DETERMINING ANY PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS CREDITABLE
COVERAGE

(B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, A CARRIER
SHALL COUNT A PERIOD OF CREDITABLE COVERAGE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
SPECIFIC BENEFITS COVERED DURING THE PERIOD.

(C) (1) A CARRIER MAY ELECT TO REDUCE THE PERIOD OF ANY
PREEXISTING CONDITION PROVISION BASED ON COVERAGE OF BENEFITS WITHIN
ANY CLASS OR CATEGORY OF BENEFITS SPECIFIED BY THE SECRETARY BY
REGULATION.

(2) ANY ELECTION MADE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE ON A
UNIFORM BASIS FOR ALL COVERED INDIVIDUALS.

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