Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/262

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PUBLIC LAW 99-000—MMMM. DD, 1986

100 STAT. 226

PUBLIC LAW 99-272—APR. 7, 1986 "(i) begins not later than the date on which coverage terminates under the plan by reason of a qualifying event, "(ii) is of at least 60 days' duration, and "(iii) ends not earlier than 60 days after the later of— "(I) the date described in clause (i), or "(11) in the case of any qualified beneficiary who receives notice under paragraph (6)(D), the date of such notice. "(B)

EFFECT OF ELECTION ON OTHER BENEFICIARIES.—

Except as otherwise specified in an election, any election by a qualified beneficiary described in clause (i)(I) or (ii) of paragraph (7)(B) shall be deemed to include an election of continuation coverage on behalf of any other qualified beneficiary who would lose coverage under the plan by reason of the qualifying event. "(6) NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.—In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary— "(A) the group health plan shall provide, at the time of commencement of coverage under the plan, written notice to each covered employee and spouse of the employee (if any) of the rights provided under this subsection, "(B) the employer of an employee under a plan must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of paragraph (3) with respect to such employee within 30 days of the date of the qualifying event, "(C) each covered employee or qualified beneficiary is responsible for notifying the plan administrator of the occurrence of any qualifying event described in subparagraph (C) or (E) of paragraph (3), and "(D) the plan administrator shall notify— "(i) in the case of a qualifying event described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of paragraph (3), any qualified beneficiary with respect to such event, and "(ii) in the case of a qualifying event described in subparagraph (C) or (E) of paragraph (3) where the covered employee notifies the plan administrator under subparagraph (C), any qualified beneficiary with respect to such event, of such beneficiary's rights under this subsection. For purposes of subparagraph (D), any notification shall be made within 14 days of the date on which the plan administrator is notified under subparagraph (B) or (C), whichever is applicable, and any such notification to an individual who is a qualified beneficiary as the spouse of the covered employee shall be treated as notification to all other qualified beneficiaries residing with such spouse at the time such notification is made. "(7) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this subsection— "(A) COVERED EMPLOYEE.—The term 'covered employee' means an individual who is (or was) provided coverage under a group health plan by virtue of the individual's employment or previous employment with an employer "(B) QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY.—

"(i) IN GENERAL.—The term 'qualified beneficiary' means, with respect to a covered employee under a group health plan, any other individual who, on the