The law requires that individuals be afforded the opportunity to maintain continuation coverage for 36 months unless group health coverage is lost because of a termination of employment or reduction in hours. In those cases, the required continuation coverage period is 18 months. The affected individual must also notify the insurance provider within 30 days of any final determination that the individual is no longer disabled. In no event will continuation coverage last beyond three years from the date of the event that originally made an individual eligible to elect coverage. Under the law, individuals may have to pay all or part of the premium for continuation coverage.
Premium is due on or before the first of each month for coverage for that month.
There is a grace period of at least 30 days for payment of the regularly scheduled premium. The law also says that, at the end of the 18 month or three-year continuation coverage period, the individual must be allowed to enroll in an individual conversion health plan provided by the insurance provider.