K.S.A. § 40-2209 — KS Code / Chapter 40 / Article 22 / Section 40-2209
40-2209 - Group sickness and accident insurance; eligibility for coverage; open enrollment; late enrollment; special enrollment; preexisting conditions; exclusions; renewal or continuation of benefits, exceptions; factors for eligibility; participation requirements designed for groups through negotiations; provisions required in policies; disability income policies with benefits integrated with social security; continued coverage and converted policies, conditions required; excluding or restricting coverage because medicaid benefits available, prohibited; penalties.
Status: in_force

40-2209. Group sickness and accident insurance; eligibility for coverage; open enrollment; late enrollment; special enrollment; preexisting conditions; exclusions; renewal or continuation of benefits, exceptions; factors for eligibility; participation requirements designed for groups through negotiations; provisions required in policies; disability income policies with benefits integrated with social security; continued coverage and converted policies, conditions required; excluding or restricting coverage because medicaid benefits available, prohibited; penalties. (a) (1) Group sickness and accident insurance is declared to be that form of sickness and accident insurance covering groups of persons, with or without one or more members of their families or one or more dependents. Except at the option of the employee or member and except employees or members enrolling in a group policy after the close of an open enrollment opportunity, no individual employee or member of an insured group and no individual dependent or family member may be excluded from eligibility or coverage under a policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits both with respect to policies issued or renewed within this state and with respect to policies issued or renewed outside this state covering persons residing in this state. For purposes of this section, an open enrollment opportunity shall be deemed to be a period no less favorable than a period beginning on the employee's or member's date of initial eligibility and ending 31 days thereafter.

(2) An eligible employee, member or dependent who requests enrollment following the open enrollment opportunity or any special enrollment period for dependents as specified in paragraph (3) shall be considered a late enrollee. An accident and sickness insurer may exclude a late enrollee, except during an open enrollment period. However, an eligible employee, member or dependent shall not be considered a late enrollee if:

(A) The individual:

(i) Was covered under another group policy which provided hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits or was covered under section 607(1) of the employee retirement income security act of 1974 (ERISA) at the time the individual was eligible to enroll;

(ii) states in writing, at the time of the open enrollment period, that coverage under another group policy that provided hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits was the reason for declining enrollment, but only if the group policyholder or the accident and sickness insurer required such a written statement and provided the individual with notice of the requirement for a written statement and the consequences of such written statement;

(iii) has lost coverage under another group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits or under section 607(1) of the employee retirement income security act of 1974 (ERISA) as a result of the termination of employment, reduction in the number of hours of employment, termination of employer contributions toward such coverage, the termination of the other policy's coverage, death of a spouse or divorce or legal separation or was under a COBRA continuation provision and the coverage under such provision was exhausted; and

(iv) requests enrollment within 30 days after the termination of coverage under the other policy; or

(B) a court has ordered coverage to be provided for a spouse or minor child under a covered employee's or member's policy.

(3) (A) If an accident and sickness insurer issues a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expenses and makes coverage available to a dependent of an eligible employee or member and such dependent becomes a dependent of the employee or member through marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption, then such group policy shall provide for a dependent special enrollment period as described in subsection (3)(B) of this section during which the dependent may be enrolled under the policy and in the case of the birth or adoption of a child, the spouse of an eligible employee or member may be enrolled if otherwise eligible for coverage.

(B) A dependent special enrollment period under this subsection shall be a period of not less than 30 days and shall begin on the later of: (i) The date such dependent coverage is made available; or (ii) the date of the marriage, birth or adoption or placement for adoption.

(C) If an eligible employee or member seeks to enroll a dependent during the first 30 days of such a dependent special enrollment period, the coverage of the dependent shall become effective: (i) In the case of marriage, not later than the first day of the first month beginning after the date the completed request for enrollment is received; (ii) in the case of the birth of a dependent, as of the date of such birth; or (iii) in the case of a dependent's adoption or placement for adoption, the date of such adoption or placement for adoption.

(4) (A) No group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits issued or renewed within this state or issued or renewed outside this state covering residents within this state shall limit or exclude benefits for specific conditions existing at or prior to the effective date of coverage thereunder. Such policy may impose a preexisting conditions exclusion, not to exceed 90 days following the date of enrollment for benefits for conditions whether mental or physical, regardless of the cause of the condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received in the 90 days prior to the effective date of enrollment. Any preexisting conditions exclusion shall run concurrently with any waiting period.

(B) Such policy may impose a waiting period after full-time employment starts before an employee is first eligible to enroll in any applicable group policy.

(C) A health maintenance organization that offers such policy that does not impose any preexisting conditions exclusion may impose an affiliation period for such coverage, provided that: (i) Such application period is applied uniformly without regard to any health status related factors; and (ii) such affiliation period does not exceed two months. The affiliation period shall run concurrently with any waiting period under the plan.

(D) A health maintenance organization may use alternative methods from those described in this subsection to address adverse selection if approved by the commissioner.

(E) For the purposes of this section, the term "preexisting conditions exclusion" shall mean, with respect to coverage, a limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the date of enrollment for such coverage whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received before such date.

(F) For the purposes of this section, the term "date of enrollment" means the date the individual is enrolled under the group policy or, if earlier, the first day of the waiting period for such enrollment.

(G) For the purposes of this section, the term "waiting period" means with respect to a group policy the period that must pass before the individual is eligible to be covered for benefits under the terms of the policy.

(5) Genetic information shall not be treated as a preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to such information.

(6) A group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion relating to pregnancy as a preexisting condition.

(7) A group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits may not impose any preexisting condition waiting period in the case of a child who is adopted or placed for adoption before attaining 18 years of age and who, as of the last day of a 30-day period beginning on the date of the adoption or placement for adoption, is covered by a policy specified in subsection (a). This subsection shall not apply to coverage before the date of such adoption or placement for adoption.

(8) Such policy shall waive such a preexisting conditions exclusion to the extent the employee or member or individual dependent or family member was covered by: (A) A group or individual sickness and accident policy; (B) coverage under section 607(1) of the employees retirement income security act of 1974 (ERISA); (C) a group specified in K.S.A. 40-2222, and amendments thereto; (D) part A or part B of title XVIII of the social security act; (E) title XIX of the social security act, other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under section 1928; (F) a state children's health insurance program established pursuant to title XXI of the social security act; (G) chapter 55 of title 10 United States code; (H) a medical care program of the Indian health service or of a tribal organization; (I) the Kansas uninsurable health plan act pursuant to K.S.A. 40-2217 et seq., and amendments thereto, or a similar health benefits risk pool of another state; (J) a health plan offered under chapter 89 of title 5, United States code; (K) a health benefit plan under section 5(e) of the peace corps act (22 U.S.C. § 2504(e)); or (L) a group subject to K.S.A. 12-2616 et seq., and amendments thereto, that provided hospital, medical and surgical expense benefits within 63 days prior to the effective date of coverage with no gap in coverage. A group policy shall credit the periods of prior coverage specified in subsection (a)(7) without regard to the specific benefits covered during the period of prior coverage. Any period that the employee or member is in a waiting period for any coverage under a group health plan or is in an affiliation period shall not be taken into account in determining the continuous period under this subsection.

(b) (1) An accident and sickness insurer which offers group policies providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits shall provide a certification as described in subsection (b)(2): (A) At the time an eligible employee, member or dependent ceases to be covered under such policy or otherwise becomes covered under a COBRA continuation provision; (B) in the case of an eligible employee, member or dependent being covered under a COBRA continuation provision, at the time such eligible employee, member or dependent ceases to be covered under a COBRA continuation provision; and (C) on the request on behalf of such eligible employee, member or dependent made not later than 24 months after the date of the cessation of the coverage described in paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(B), whichever is later.

(2) The certification described in this subsection is a written certification of: (A) The period of coverage under a policy specified in subsection (a) and any coverage under such COBRA continuation provision; and (B) any waiting period imposed with respect to the eligible employee, member or dependent for any coverage under such policy.

(c) Any group policy may impose participation requirements, define full-time employees or members and otherwise be designed for the group as a whole through negotiations between the group sponsor and the insurer to the extent such design is not contrary to or inconsistent with this act.

(d) (1) An accident and sickness insurer offering a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits must renew or continue in force such coverage at the option of the policyholder or certificateholder except as provided in paragraph (2).

(2) An accident and sickness insurer may nonrenew or discontinue coverage under a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits based only on one or more of the following circumstances:

(A) If the policyholder or certificateholder has failed to pay any premium or contributions in accordance with the terms of the group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits or the accident and sickness insurer has not received timely premium payments;

(B) if the policyholder or certificateholder has performed an act or practice that constitutes fraud or made an intentional misrepresentation of material fact under the terms of such coverage;

(C) if the policyholder or certificateholder has failed to comply with a material plan provision relating to employer contribution or group participation rules;

(D) if the accident and sickness insurer is ceasing to offer coverage in such group market in accordance with subsection (d)(3) or (4);

(E) in the case of accident and sickness insurer that offers coverage under a policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits through an enrollment area, there is no longer any eligible employee, member or dependent in connection with such policy who lives, resides or works in the medical service enrollment area of the accident and sickness insurer or in the area for which the accident and sickness insurer is authorized to do business; or

(F) in the case of a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits that is offered through an association or trust pursuant to subsection (f)(3) or (5), the membership of the employer in such association or trust ceases but only if such coverage is terminated uniformly without regard to any health status related factor relating to any eligible employee, member or dependent.

(3) In any case in which an accident and sickness insurer that offers a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits decides to discontinue offering such type of group policy, such coverage may be discontinued only if:

(A) The accident and sickness insurer notifies all policyholders and certificateholders and all eligible employees or members of such discontinuation at least 90 days prior to the date of the discontinuation of such coverage;

(B) the accident and sickness insurer offers to each policyholder who is provided such group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits that is being discontinued the option to purchase any other group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits currently being offered by such accident and sickness insurer; and

(C) in exercising the option to discontinue coverage and in offering the option of coverage under subparagraph (B), the accident and sickness insurer acts uniformly without regard to the claims experience of those policyholders or certificateholders or any health status related factors relating to any eligible employee, member or dependent covered by such group policy or new employees or members who may become eligible for such coverage.

(4) If the accident and sickness insurer elects to discontinue offering group policies providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits or group coverage to a small employer pursuant to K.S.A. 40-2209f, and amendments thereto, such coverage may be discontinued only if:

(A) The accident and sickness insurer provides notice to the insurance commissioner, to all policyholders or certificateholders and to all eligible employees and members covered by such group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits at least 180 days prior to the date of the discontinuation of such coverage;

(B) all group policies providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits offered by such accident and sickness insurer are discontinued and coverage under such policies are not renewed; and

(C) the accident and sickness insurer may not provide for the issuance of any group policies providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits in the discontinued market during a five year period beginning on the date of the discontinuation of the last such group policy which is nonrenewed.

(e) An accident and sickness insurer offering a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits may not establish rules for eligibility (including continued eligibility) of any employee, member or dependent to enroll under the terms of the group policy based on any of the following factors in relation to the eligible employee, member or dependent: (A) Health status; (B) medical condition, including both physical and mental illness; (C) claims experience; (D) receipt of health care; (E) medical history; (F) genetic information; (G) evidence of insurability, including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence; or (H) disability. This subsection shall not be construed to require a policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits to provide particular benefits other than those provided under the terms of such group policy or to prevent a group policy providing hospital, medical or surgical expense benefits from establishing limitations or restrictions on the amount, level, extent or nature of the benefits or coverage for similarly situated individuals enrolled under the group policy.

(f) Group accident and health insurance may be offered to a group under the following basis:

(1) Under a policy issued to an employer or trustees of a fund established by an employer, who is the policyholder, insuring at least two employees of such employer, for the benefit of persons other than the employer. The term "employees" shall include the officers, managers, employees and retired employees of the employer, the partners, if the employer is a partnership, the proprietor, if the employer is an individual proprietorship, the officers, managers and employees and retired employees of subsidiary or affiliated corporations of a corporation employer, and the individual proprietors, partners, employees and retired employees of individuals and firms, the business of which and of the insured employer is under common control through stock ownership contract, or otherwise. The policy may provide that the term "employees" may include the trustees or their employees, or both, if their duties are principally connected with such trusteeship. A policy issued to insure the employees of a public body may provide that the term "employees" shall include elected or appointed officials.

(2) Under a policy issued to a labor union that shall have a constitution and bylaws insuring at least 25 members of such union.

(3) Under a policy issued to the trustees of a fund established by two or more employers or business associations or by one or more labor unions or by one or more employers and one or more labor unions, which trustees shall be the policyholder, to insure employees of the employers or members of the union or members of the association for the benefit of persons other than the employers or the unions or the associations. The term "employees" shall include the officers, managers, employees and retired employees of the employer and the individual proprietor or partners if the employer is an individual proprietor or partnership. The policy may provide that the term "employees" shall include the trustees or their employees, or both, if their duties are principally connected with such trusteeship.

(4) A policy issued to a creditor, who shall be deemed the policyholder, to insure debtors of the creditor, subject to the following requirements: (A) The debtors eligible for insurance under the policy shall be all of the debtors of the creditor whose indebtedness is repayable in installments, or all of any class or classes determined by conditions pertaining to the indebtedness or to the purchase giving rise to the indebtedness; and (B) the premium for the policy shall be paid by the policyholder, either from the creditor's funds or from charges collected from the insured debtors, or from both.

(5) A policy issued to an association that has been organized and is maintained for the purposes other than that of obtaining insurance, insuring members, employees, or employees of members of the association for the benefit of persons other than the association or its officers. The term "employees" shall include retired employees. The premiums for the policies shall be paid by the policyholder, either wholly from association funds or funds contributed by the members of such association, or by employees of such members or any combination thereof.

(6) Under a policy issued to any other type of group which the commissioner of insurance may find is properly subject to the issuance of a group sickness and accident policy or contract.

(g) Each such policy shall contain in substance: (1) A provision that a copy of the application, if any, of the policyholder shall be attached to the policy when issued, that all statements made by the policyholder or by the persons insured shall be deemed representations and not warranties, and that no statement made by any person insured shall be used in any contest unless a copy of the instrument containing the statement is or has been furnished to such person or the insured's beneficiary.

(2) A provision setting forth the conditions under which an individual's coverage terminates under the policy, including the age, if any, to which an individual's coverage under the policy shall be limited, or, the age, if any, at which any additional limitations or restrictions are placed upon an individual's coverage under the policy.

(3) Provisions setting forth the notice of claim, proofs of loss and claim forms, physical examination and autopsy, time of payment of claims, to whom benefits are payable, payment of claims, change of beneficiary, and legal action requirements. Such provisions shall not be less favorable to the individual insured or the insured's beneficiary than those corresponding policy provisions required to be contained in individual accident and sickness policies.

(4) A provision that the insurer will furnish to the policyholder, for the delivery to each employee or member of the insured group, an individual certificate approved by the commissioner of insurance setting forth in summary form a statement of the essential features of the insurance coverage of such employee or member, the procedure to be followed in making claim under the policy and to whom benefits are payable. Such certificate shall also contain a summary of those provisions required under paragraphs (2) and (3) in addition to the other essential features of the insurance coverage. If dependents are included in the coverage, only one certificate need be issued for each family unit.

(h) No group disability income policy that integrates benefits with social security benefits, shall provide that the amount of any disability benefit actually being paid to the disabled person shall be reduced by changes in the level of social security benefits resulting either from changes in the social security law or due to cost of living adjustments which become effective after the first day for which disability benefits become payable.

(i) A group policy of insurance delivered or issued for delivery or renewed that provides hospital, surgical or major medical expense insurance, or any combination of these coverages, on an expense incurred basis, shall provide that an employee or member or such employee's or member's covered dependents whose insurance under the group policy has been terminated for any reason, including discontinuance of the group policy in its entirety or with respect to an insured class, and who has been continuously insured under the group policy or under any group policy providing similar benefits that it replaces for at least three months immediately prior to termination, shall be entitled to have such coverage nonetheless continued under the group policy for a period of 18 months and have issued to the employee or member or such employee's or member's covered dependents by the insurer, at the end of such eighteen-month period of continuation, a policy of health insurance that conforms to the applicable requirements specified in this subsection. This requirement shall not apply to a group policy which provides benefits for specific diseases or for accidental injuries only or a group policy issued to an employer subject to the continuation and conversion obligations set forth at title I, subtitle B, part 6 of the employee retirement income security act of 1974 or at title XXII of the public health service act, as each act was in effect on January 1, 1987, to the extent federal law provides the employee or member or such employee's or member's covered dependents with equal or greater continuation or conversion rights; or an employee or member or such employee's or member's covered dependents shall not be entitled to have such coverage continued or a converted policy issued to the employee or member or such employee's or member's covered dependents if termination of the insurance under the group policy occurred because:

(1) The employee or member or such employee's or member's covered dependents failed to pay any required contribution after receiving reasonable notice of such required contribution from the insurer in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the commissioner of insurance; (2) any discontinued group coverage was replaced by similar group coverage within 31 days; (3) the employee or member is or could be covered by medicare (title XVIII of the United States social security act as added by the social security amendments of 1965 or as later amended or superseded); (4) the employee or member is or could be covered to the same extent by any other insured or lawful self-insured arrangement which provides expense incurred hospital, surgical or medical coverage and benefits for individuals in a group under which the person was not covered prior to such termination; or (5) coverage for the employee or member, or any covered dependent thereof, was terminated for cause as permitted by the group policy or certificate of coverage approved by the commissioner. In the event the group policy is terminated and not replaced the insurer may issue an individual policy or certificate in lieu of a conversion policy or the continuation of group coverage required herein if the individual policy or certificate provides substantially similar coverage for the same or less premium as the group policy. In any event, the employee or member shall have the option to be issued a conversion policy that meets the requirements set forth in this subsection in lieu of the right to continue group coverage.

(j) The continued coverage and the issuance of a converted policy shall be subject to the following conditions:

(1) Written application for the converted policy shall be made and the first premium paid to the insurer not later than 31 days after termination of coverage under the group policy or not later than 31 days after notice is received pursuant to paragraph (20) of this subsection.

(2) The converted policy shall be issued without evidence of insurability.

(3) The employer shall give the employee and such employee's covered dependents reasonable notice of the right to continuation of coverage. The terminated employee or member shall pay to the insurance carrier the premium for the eighteen-month continuation of coverage and such premium shall be the same as that applicable to members or employees remaining in the group. Failure to pay such premium shall terminate coverage under the group policy at the end of the period for which the premium has been paid. The premium rate charged for converted policies issued subsequent to the period of continued coverage shall be such that can be expected to produce an anticipated loss ratio of not less than 80% based upon conversion, morbidity and reasonable assumptions for expected trends in medical care costs. In the event the group policy is terminated and is not replaced, converted policies may be issued at self-sustaining rates that are not unreasonable in relation to the coverage provided based on conversion, morbidity and reasonable assumptions for expected trends in medical care costs. The frequency of premium payment shall be the frequency customarily required by the insurer for the policy form and plan selected, provided that the insurer shall not require premium payments less frequently than quarterly.

(4) The effective date of the converted policy shall be the day following the termination of insurance under the group policy.

(5) The converted policy shall cover the employee or member and the employee's or member's dependents who were covered by the group policy on the date of termination of insurance. At the option of the insurer, a separate converted policy may be issued to cover any dependent.

(6) The insurer shall not be required to issue a converted policy covering any person if such person is or could be covered by medicare (title XVIII of the United States social security act as added by the social security amendments of 1965 or as later amended or superseded). Furthermore, the insurer shall not be required to issue a converted policy covering any person if:

(A) (i) Such person is covered for similar benefits by another hospital, surgical, medical or major medical expense insurance policy or hospital or medical service subscriber contract or medical practice or other prepayment plan or by any other plan or program, or

(ii) such person is eligible for similar benefits (whether or not covered therefor) under any arrangement of coverage for individuals in a group, whether on an insured or uninsured basis, or

(iii) similar benefits are provided for or available to such person, pursuant to or in accordance with the requirements of any state or federal law, and

(B) the benefits provided under the sources referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) for such person or benefits provided or available under the sources referred to in subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (iii) for such person, together with the benefits provided by the converted policy, would result in over-insurance according to the insurer's standards. The insurer's standards must bear some reasonable relationship to actual health care costs in the area in which the insured lives at the time of conversion and must be filed with the commissioner of insurance prior to their use in denying coverage.

(7) A converted policy may include a provision whereby the insurer may request information in advance of any premium due date of such policy of any person covered as to whether:

(A) Such person is covered for similar benefits by another hospital, surgical, medical or major medical expense insurance policy or hospital or medical service subscriber contract or medical practice or other prepayment plan or by any other plan or program;

(B) such person is covered for similar benefits under any arrangement of coverage for individuals in a group, whether on an insured or uninsured basis; or

(C) similar benefits are provided for or available to such person, pursuant to or in accordance with the requirements of any state or federal law.

(8) The converted policy may provide that the insurer may refuse to renew the policy and the coverage of any person insured for the following reasons only:

(A) Either the benefits provided under the sources referred to in paragraph (6)(A)(i) and (ii) for such person or benefits provided or available under the sources referred to in paragraph (6)(A)(iii) for such person, together with the benefits provided by the converted policy, would result in over-insurance according to the insurer's standards on file with the commissioner of insurance, or the converted policyholder fails to provide the requested information;

(B) fraud or material misrepresentation in applying for any benefits under the converted policy; or

(C) other reasons approved by the commissioner of insurance.

(9) An insurer shall not be required to issue a converted policy that provides coverage and benefits in excess of those provided under the group policy from which conversion is made.

(10) If the converted policy provides that any hospital, surgical or medical benefits payable may be reduced by the amount of any such benefits payable under the group policy after the termination of the individual's insurance or the converted policy includes provisions so that during the first policy year the benefits payable under the converted policy, together with the benefits payable under the group policy, shall not exceed those that would have been payable had the individual's insurance under the group policy remained in force and effect, the converted policy shall provide credit for deductibles, copayments and other conditions satisfied under the group policy.

(11) Subject to the provisions and conditions of this act, if the group insurance policy from which conversion is made insures the employee or member for major medical expense insurance, the employee or member shall be entitled to obtain a converted policy providing catastrophic or major medical coverage under a plan meeting the following requirements:

(A) A maximum benefit at least equal to either, at the option of the insurer, the amount described in clause (i) or (ii):

(i) The smaller of the following amounts:

The maximum benefit provided under the group policy or a maximum payment of $250,000 per covered person for all covered medical expenses incurred during the covered person's lifetime.

(ii) The smaller of the following amounts:

The maximum benefit provided under the group policy or a maximum payment of $250,000 for each unrelated injury or sickness.

(B) Payment of benefits at the rate of 80% of covered medical expenses that are in excess of the deductible, until 20% of such expenses in a benefit period reaches $1,000, after which benefits will be paid at the rate of 100% during the remainder of such benefit period. Payment of benefits for outpatient treatment of mental illness, if provided in the converted policy, may be at a lesser rate but not less than 50%.

(C) A deductible for each benefit period which, at the option of the insurer, shall be: (i) The sum of the benefits deductible and $100; or (ii) the corresponding deductible in the group policy. The term "benefits deductible," as used herein, means the value of any benefits provided on an expense incurred basis that are provided with respect to covered medical expenses by any other hospital, surgical, or medical insurance policy or hospital or medical service subscriber contract or medical practice or other prepayment plan, or any other plan or program whether on an insured or uninsured basis, or in accordance with the requirements of any state or federal law and, if pursuant to the conditions of paragraph (13), the converted policy provides both basic hospital or surgical coverage and major medical coverage, the value of such basic benefits.

If the maximum benefit is determined by subparagraph (A)(ii), the insurer may require that the deductible be satisfied during a period of not less than three months if the deductible is $100 or less, and not less than six months if the deductible exceeds $100.

(D) The benefit period shall be each calendar year when the maximum benefit is determined by subparagraph (A)(i) or 24 months when the maximum benefit is determined by subparagraph (A)(ii).

(E) The term "covered medical expenses," as used above, shall include at least, in the case of hospital room and board charges 80% of the average semiprivate room and board rate for the hospital in which the individual is confined and twice such amount for charges in an intensive care unit. Any surgical schedule shall be consistent with those customarily offered by the insurer under group or individual health insurance policies and must provide at least a $1,200 maximum benefit.

(12) The conversion privilege required by this act shall, if the group insurance policy insures the employee or member for basic hospital or surgical expense insurance as well as major medical expense insurance, make available the plans of benefits set forth in paragraph (11). At the option of the insurer, such plans of benefits may be provided under one policy.

The insurer may also, in lieu of the plans of benefits set forth in paragraph (11), provide a policy of comprehensive medical expense benefits without first dollar coverage. The policy shall conform to the requirements of paragraph (11). An insurer electing to provide such a policy shall make available a low deductible option, not to exceed $100, a high deductible option between $500 and $1,000, and a third deductible option midway between the high and low deductible options.

(13) The insurer, at its option, may also offer alternative plans for group health conversion in addition to those required by this act.

(14) In the event coverage would be continued under the group policy on an employee following the employee's retirement prior to the time the employee is or could be covered by medicare, the employee may elect, in lieu of such continuation of group insurance, to have the same conversion rights as would apply had such person's insurance terminated at retirement by reason of termination of employment or membership.

(15) The converted policy may provide for reduction of coverage on any person upon such person's eligibility for coverage under medicare (title XVIII of the United States social security act as added by the social security amendments of 1965 or as later amended or superseded) or under any other state or federal law providing for benefits similar to those provided by the converted policy.

(16) Subject to the conditions set forth above, the continuation and conversion privileges shall also be available:

(A) To the surviving spouse, if any, at the death of the employee or member, with respect to the spouse and such children whose coverage under the group policy terminates by reason of such death, otherwise to each surviving child whose coverage under the group policy terminates by reason of such death, or, if the group policy provides for continuation of dependents' coverage following the employee's or member's death, at the end of such continuation;

(B) to the spouse of the employee or member upon termination of coverage of the spouse, while the employee or member remains insured under the group policy, by reason of ceasing to be a qualified family member under the group policy, with respect to the spouse and such children whose coverage under the group policy terminates at the same time; or

(C) to a child solely with respect to such child upon termination of such coverage by reason of ceasing to be a qualified family member under the group policy, if a conversion privilege is not otherwise provided above with respect to such termination.

(17) The insurer may elect to provide group insurance coverage that complies with this act in lieu of the issuance of a converted individual policy.

(18) A notification of the conversion privilege shall be included in each certificate of coverage.

(19) A converted policy that is delivered outside this state must be on a form that could be delivered in such other jurisdiction as a converted policy had the group policy been issued in that jurisdiction.

(20) The insurer shall give the employee or member and such employee's or member's covered dependents: (A) Reasonable notice of the right to convert at least once during the eighteen-month continuation period; or (B) for persons covered under 29 U.S.C. §§ 1161 et seq., notice of the right to a conversion policy required by this subsection (d) shall be given at least 30 days prior to the end of the continuation period provided by 29 U.S.C. §§ 1161 et seq. or from the date the employer ceases to provide any similar group health plan to any employee. Such notices shall be provided in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the commissioner of insurance.

(k) (1) No policy issued by an insurer to which this section applies shall contain a provision that excludes, limits or otherwise restricts coverage because medicaid benefits as permitted by title XIX of the social security act of 1965 are or may be available for the same accident or illness.

(2) Violation of this subsection shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by K.S.A. 40-2407 and 40-2411, and amendments thereto.

(l) The commissioner is hereby authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.