2013 Maryland Code
INSURANCE
§ 15-1208 - Applicability of § 15-508


MD Ins Code § 15-1208 (2013) What's This?

§15-1208.

The provisions of § 15-508 of this title apply to a policy or certificate issued to a small employer.

§ 15-1208 - 1. Special enrollment periods in small employer health benefit plans [Effective until January 1, 2014]

(a) In general. -- A carrier shall provide the special enrollment periods described in this section in each small employer health benefit plan.

(b) Coverage. -- If the small employer elects under § 15-1210(a)(3) of this subtitle to offer coverage to all of its employees who are covered under another public or private plan of health insurance or another health benefit arrangement, a carrier shall allow an employee or dependent who is eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage under the terms of the employer's health benefit plan to enroll for coverage under the terms of the plan if:

(1) the employee or dependent was covered under an employer-sponsored plan or group health benefit plan at the time coverage was previously offered to the employee or dependent;

(2) the employee states in writing, at the time coverage was previously offered, that coverage under an employer-sponsored plan or group health benefit plan was the reason for declining enrollment, but only if the plan sponsor or carrier requires the statement and provides the employee with notice of the requirement;

(3) the employee's or dependent's coverage described in item (1) of this subsection:

(i) was under a COBRA continuation provision, and the coverage under that provision was exhausted; or

(ii) was not under a COBRA continuation provision, and either the coverage was terminated as a result of loss of eligibility for the coverage, including loss of eligibility as a result of legal separation, divorce, death, termination of employment, or reduction in the number of hours of employment, or employer contributions towards the coverage were terminated; and

(4) under the terms of the plan, the employee requests enrollment not later than 30 days after:

(i) the date of exhaustion of coverage described in item (3)(i) of this subsection; or

(ii) termination of coverage or termination of employer contributions described in item (3)(ii) of this subsection.

(c) Enrollment -- Eligible individuals. -- All small employer health benefit plans shall provide a special enrollment period during which the following individuals may be enrolled under the health benefit plan:

(1) an individual who becomes a dependent of the eligible employee through marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption;

(2) an eligible employee who acquires a new dependent through marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption; and

(3) the spouse of an eligible employee at the birth or adoption of a child, provided the spouse is otherwise eligible for coverage.

(d) Enrollment -- Restrictions. -- An eligible employee may not enroll a dependent during a special enrollment period unless the eligible employee:

(1) is enrolled under the health benefit plan; or

(2) applies for coverage for the eligible employee during the same special enrollment period.

(e) Enrollment period. -- The special enrollment period under subsection (c) of this section shall be a period of not less than 31 days and shall begin on the later of:

(1) the date dependent coverage is made available; or

(2) the date of the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, whichever is applicable.

(f) Coverage effectiveness. -- If an eligible employee enrolls any of the individuals described in subsection (c) of this section during the first 31 days of the special enrollment period, the coverage shall become effective as follows:

(1) 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;

(2) in the case of a dependent's birth, as of the date of the dependent's birth; and

(3) in the case of a dependent's adoption or placement for adoption, the date of adoption or placement for adoption, whichever occurs first.

§ 15-1208 - 1. Special enrollment periods in small employer health benefit plans [Effective January 1, 2014]

(a) In general. -- A carrier shall provide the special enrollment periods described in this section in each small employer health benefit plan.

(b) Coverage. -- If the small employer elects under § 15-1210(a)(3) of this subtitle to offer coverage to all of its eligible employees who are covered under another public or private plan of health insurance or another health benefit arrangement, a carrier shall allow an eligible employee or dependent who is eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage under the terms of the employer's health benefit plan to enroll for coverage under the terms of the plan if:

(1) the eligible employee or dependent was covered under an employer-sponsored plan or group health benefit plan at the time coverage was previously offered to the employee or dependent;

(2) the eligible employee states in writing, at the time coverage was previously offered, that coverage under an employer-sponsored plan or group health benefit plan was the reason for declining enrollment, but only if the plan sponsor or carrier requires the statement and provides the employee with notice of the requirement;

(3) the eligible employee's or dependent's coverage described in item (1) of this subsection:

(i) was under a COBRA continuation provision, and the coverage under that provision was exhausted; or

(ii) was not under a COBRA continuation provision, and either the coverage was terminated as a result of loss of eligibility for the coverage, including loss of eligibility as a result of legal separation, divorce, death, termination of employment, or reduction in the number of hours of employment, or employer contributions towards the coverage were terminated; and

(4) under the terms of the plan, the eligible employee requests enrollment not later than 30 days after:

(i) the date of exhaustion of coverage described in item (3)(i) of this subsection; or

(ii) termination of coverage or termination of employer contributions described in item (3)(ii) of this subsection.

(c) Enrollment -- Eligible individuals. -- All small employer health benefit plans shall provide a special enrollment period during which the following individuals may be enrolled under the health benefit plan:

(1) an individual who becomes a dependent of the eligible employee through marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption;

(2) an eligible employee who acquires a new dependent through marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption; and

(3) the spouse of an eligible employee at the birth or adoption of a child, provided the spouse is otherwise eligible for coverage.

(d) Enrollment -- Restrictions. -- An eligible employee may not enroll a dependent during a special enrollment period unless the eligible employee:

(1) is enrolled under the health benefit plan; or

(2) applies for coverage for the eligible employee during the same special enrollment period.

(e) Enrollment period. -- The special enrollment period under subsection (c) of this section shall be a period of not less than 31 days and shall begin on the later of:

(1) the date dependent coverage is made available; or

(2) the date of the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, whichever is applicable.

(f) Coverage effectiveness. -- If an eligible employee enrolls any of the individuals described in subsection (c) of this section during the first 31 days of the special enrollment period, the coverage shall become effective as follows:

(1) 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;

(2) in the case of a dependent's birth, as of the date of the dependent's birth; and

(3) in the case of a dependent's adoption or placement for adoption, the date of adoption or placement for adoption, whichever occurs first.

§ 15-1208 - 2. Annual open enrollment periods for small employers [Effective January 1, 2014].

(a) Definitions. --

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Dependent" means an individual who is or who may become eligible for coverage under the terms of a health benefit plan because of a relationship with an eligible employee.

(3) "Qualifying coverage in an eligible employer-sponsored plan" has the meaning stated in 45 C.F.R. § 155.300.

(b) In general. --

(1) A carrier shall establish a standardized annual open enrollment period of at least 30 days for each small employer.

(2) The annual open enrollment period shall occur before the end of the small employer's plan year.

(3) During the annual open enrollment period, each eligible employee of the small employer shall be permitted to:

(i) enroll in a health benefit plan offered by the small employer;

(ii) discontinue enrollment in a health benefit plan offered by the small employer; or

(iii) change enrollment from one health benefit plan offered by the small employer to a different health benefit plan offered by the small employer.

(c) Length open enrollment period. -- A carrier shall provide an open enrollment period of at least 30 days for each employee who becomes an eligible employee outside the initial or annual open enrollment period.

(d) Open enrollment period for individuals experiencing triggering event. --

(1) A carrier shall provide an open enrollment period for each individual who experiences a triggering event described in paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(2) The open enrollment period shall be for at least 30 days, beginning on the date of the triggering event.

(3) During the open enrollment period for an individual who experiences a triggering event, a carrier shall permit the individual to enroll in or change from one health benefit plan offered by the small employer to another health benefit plan offered by the small employer.

(4) A triggering event occurs when:

(i) subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, an eligible employee or dependent loses minimum essential coverage;

(ii) an eligible employee or a dependent who is enrolled in a qualified health plan in the SHOP Exchange:

1. adequately demonstrates to the SHOP Exchange that the qualified health plan in which the eligible employee or a dependent is enrolled substantially violated a material provision of the qualified health plan's contract in relation to the eligible employee or a dependent;

2. gains access to new qualified health plans as a result of a permanent move; or

3. demonstrates to the SHOP Exchange, in accordance with guidelines issued by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, that the eligible employee or a dependent meets other exceptional circumstances as the SHOP Exchange may provide;

(iii) an eligible employee or a dependent is enrolled in an employer-sponsored health benefit plan that is not qualifying coverage in an eligible employer-sponsored plan and is allowed to terminate existing coverage; or

(iv) an eligible employee or dependent:

1. loses eligibility for coverage under a Medicaid plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act or a state child health plan under Title XXI of the Social Security Act; or

2. becomes eligible for assistance, with respect to coverage under the SHOP Exchange, under a Medicaid plan or state child health plan, including any waiver or demonstration project conducted under or in relation to a Medicaid plan or a state child health plan.

(5) Loss of minimum essential coverage under paragraph (4)(i) of this subsection does not include loss of coverage due to:

(i) failure to pay premiums on a timely basis, including COBRA premiums prior to expiration of COBRA coverage; or

(ii) a rescission authorized under 45 C.F.R. § 147.128.

(6) If an eligible employee or a dependent meets the requirements for the triggering event described in paragraph (4)(iii) of this subsection, the open enrollment period shall:

(i) apply only to health benefit plans offered by the carrier in the SHOP Exchange; and

(ii) begin at least 60 days before the end of the eligible employee's or dependent's coverage under the employer-sponsored plan.

(7) An eligible employee or a dependent who meets the requirements for the triggering event described in paragraph (4)(iv) of this subsection shall have 60 days from the triggering event to select a qualified health plan through the SHOP Exchange.

(e) Effectiveness of coverage. -- If an individual enrolls for coverage during one of the open enrollment periods described in this section, coverage shall be effective in accordance with the requirements in 45 C.F.R. § 155.420.

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