A. Every individual or group contract entered into by a health care plan that provides for health care expense payments on a service benefit basis or an indemnity benefit basis or both and that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1984 shall provide covered family members of subscribers the right to continue such coverage through a converted or separate contract upon the death of the subscriber or upon the divorce, annulment or dissolution of marriage or legal separation of the spouse from the subscriber. Where a continuation of coverage or conversion is made in the name of the spouse of the subscriber, such coverage may, at the option of the spouse, include coverage to dependent children for whom the spouse has responsibility for care and support.

B. The right to a continuation of coverage or conversion pursuant to this section shall not exist with respect to any covered family member of a subscriber in the event the coverage terminates for nonpayment of premium, nonrenewal of the contract or the expiration of the term for which the contract is issued. With respect to any covered family member who is eligible for medicare or any other similar federal or state health insurance program, the right to a continuation of coverage or conversion shall be limited to coverage under a medicare supplement insurance contract as defined by the rules and regulations adopted by the superintendent of insurance.

C. Coverage continued through the issuance of a converted or separate contract shall be provided at a reasonable, nondiscriminatory rate to the insured and shall consist of a form of coverage then being offered by the health care plan as a conversion contract in the jurisdiction where the person exercising the conversion right resides that most nearly approximates the coverage of the contract from which conversion is exercised. Continued and converted coverages shall contain renewal provisions that are not less favorable to the subscriber than those contained in the policy from which the conversion is made, except that the person who exercises the right of conversion is entitled only to have included a right to coverage under a medicare supplement insurance contract, as defined by the rules and regulations adopted by the superintendent of insurance, after the attainment of the age of eligibility for medicare or any other similar federal or state health insurance program.

D. At the time of inception of coverage, the health care plan shall provide each covered family member eighteen years of age or older a statement setting forth in summary form the continuation of coverage and conversion provisions of the subscriber's contract.

E. The eligible covered family member exercising the continuation or conversion right must notify the health care plan and make payment of the applicable premium within thirty days following the date such coverage otherwise terminates as specified in the contract from which continuation or conversion is being exercised.

F. Coverage shall be provided through continuation or conversion without additional evidence of insurability and shall not impose any preexisting condition, limitations or other contractual time limitations.

G. Any probationary or waiting period set forth in the converted or separate contract is deemed to commence on the effective date of the applicant's coverage under the original contract.

History: Laws 1984, ch. 127, § 879.33; 2019, ch. 259, § 19.

The 2019 amendment, effective June 14, 2019, removed language that limited conversion or continuation of a policy based on pre-existing conditions; and in Subsection F, after "time limitations", deleted "other than those remaining unexpired under the contract from which continuation or conversion is exercised".