View all text of Subchapter XX [§ 300bb-1 - § 300bb-8]
§ 300bb–2. Continuation coverage
For purposes of section 300bb–1 of this title, the term “continuation coverage” means coverage under the plan which meets the following requirements:
(1) Type of benefit coverage
(2) Period of coverage
The coverage must extend for at least the period beginning on the date of the qualifying event and ending not earlier than the earliest of the following:
(A) Maximum required period
(i) General rule for terminations and reduced hours
(ii) Special rule for multiple qualifying events
(iii) General rule for other qualifying events
(iv) Special rule for TAA-eligible individuals
(v) Medicare entitlement followed by qualifying event
(vi) Special rule for disability
(B) End of plan
(C) Failure to pay premium
(D) Group health plan coverage or medicare entitlement
The date on which the qualified beneficiary first becomes, after the date of the election—
(i) covered under any other group health plan (as an employee or otherwise) which does not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to any preexisting condition of such beneficiary (other than such an exclusion or limitation which does not apply to (or is satisfied by) such beneficiary by reason of chapter 100 of title 26, part 7 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [29 U.S.C. 1181 et seq.], or subchapter XXV of this chapter), or
(ii) entitled to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.].
(E) Termination of extended coverage for disability
(3) Premium requirements
The plan may require payment of a premium for any period of continuation coverage, except that such premium—
(A) shall not exceed 102 percent of the applicable premium for such period, and
(B) may, at the election of the payor, be made in monthly installments.
In no event may the plan require the payment of any premium before the day which is 45 days after the day on which the qualified beneficiary made the initial election for continuation coverage.2
2 See 1989 Amendment note below.
In the case of an individual described in the last sentence of paragraph (2)(A), any reference in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph to “102 percent” is deemed a reference to “150 percent” for any month after the 18th month of continuation coverage described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(A).(4) No requirement of insurability
(5) Conversion option
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXII, § 2202, as added Pub. L. 99–272, title X, § 10003(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 233; amended Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, § 1895(d)(1)(C), (2)(C), (3)(C), (4)(C), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2937–2939; Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, §§ 6702(a), (b), 6801(b)(1)(A), (2)(A), (3)(A), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2295, 2297; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(g)(1)(C), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1880; Pub. L. 104–191, title IV, § 421(a)(1), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2087; Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1899F(c), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 429; Pub. L. 111–344, title I, § 116(c), Dec. 29, 2010, 124 Stat. 3616; Pub. L. 112–40, title II, § 243(a)(5), Oct. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 420.)