(a)  Between July 26, 1993, and October 24, 1993, as well as 60 days prior to the expiration of an existing plan contract that expires prior to July 1, 1994, or, for plan contracts expiring after July 1, 1994, 60 days prior to July 1, 1994, an association that meets the definition of guaranteed association, as set forth in Section 1357, except for the requirement that 1,000 persons be covered, shall be entitled to purchase small employer health coverage as if the association were a guaranteed association, except that the coverage shall be guaranteed only for those members of an association, as defined in Section 1357, (1) who were receiving coverage or had successfully applied for coverage through the association as of June 30, 1993, (2) who were receiving coverage through the association as of December 31, 1992, and whose coverage lapsed at any time thereafter because the employment through which coverage was received ended or an employer’s contribution to health coverage ended, or (3) who were covered at any time between June 30, 1993, and July 1, 1994, under a contract that was in force on June 30, 1993.

(b)  An association obtaining health coverage for its members pursuant to this section shall otherwise be afforded all the rights of a guaranteed association under this chapter including, but not limited to, guaranteed renewability of coverage.

(c)  No later than August 25, 1993, plans that, at any time during the 1993 calendar year have provided coverage to associations that would be eligible for coverage under this section shall notify those associations of their rights under this section. Ninety days prior to the expiration of a plan contract that expires prior to July 1, 1994, or, for plan contracts expiring after July 1, 1994, 90 days prior to July 1, 1994, health plans that have in force coverage with an association that would be eligible for coverage under this section shall notify the association of its rights under this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1146, Sec. 2.5. Effective October 11, 1993.)