6.5. ERMUSR 01-15-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARTICLE XIV. CONTINUATION COVERAGE 14.1 Compliance with Continuation. Continued coverage for Group Dental Benefits, Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, Limited Scope Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, and the Individual Premium Plan (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Health Plans' shall be provided as required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") as amended or applicable state law. The remainder of this Article applies only if and to the extent required under COBRA or state continuation laws. 14.2 Policies and Procedures. To the extent not provided herein, the Plan Administrator shall, within the parameters of the law, establish uniform policies by which to provide such continuation coverage. To the extent the policies and procedures provided herein conflict with the underlying plan documents for the Health Plans, such underlying plan documents shall control. 14.3 COBRA Notification Procedures. The Health Plans require the notifications described below with respect to continuation coverage under COBRA: (a) Notice of qualifying event. Under the law, a Covered Individual (or a representative acting on behalf of the Covered Individual) has the responsibility to inform the Health Plans of a divorce, legal separation, or a child losing Dependent status under the Health Plans (the "qualifying event's within sixty (60) days of the latest of: (i) the date of the qualifying event; (ii) the date coverage would be lost because of the qualifying event; or (iii) the date on which the Covered Individual was informed of the responsibility to provide notice and the procedures for doing so. The notification must be provided in writing and be mailed to the Health Plans. Oral notification, including notification by telephone is not acceptable. Electronic (including emailed or faxed) or hand-delivered notifications are not acceptable. The notification must be postmarked no later than the last day of the sixty (60) day notice period described above. The notification must: (1) State the name of the Health Plans; (2) State the name and address of the employee or former employee who is or was covered under the Health Plans; (3) State the name(s) and address(es) of all Covered Individuals who lost coverage due to the qualifying event; (4) Include a detailed description of the event; (S) Identify the effective date of the event; and (6) Be accompanied by any documentation providing proof of the event (i.e., the divorce decree). If no notification is received within the required time period, no continuation coverage will be provided. If the notification is incomplete, it will be deemed timely if the Health Plans are able to determine the plan to which it applies, the identity of the employee and the Covered Individuals, the qualifying event, and the date on which the qualifying event occurred, provided that the missing information is provided within thirty (30) days. If the missing information is not provided within that time, the notification will be ineffective and no continuation coverage will be provided. (b) Notice of second qualifying event. A Covered Individual (or a representative acting on behalf of the Covered Individual) must notify the Health Plans of the death of the employee, divorce or separation from the employee, or a Dependent child's ceasing to be eligible for coverage as a Dependent under the Health Plans, if that event occurs within the eighteen (18) month continuation period (or an extension of that period for disability or for pre-termination Medicare entitlement). The notification must be provided within sixty (60) days after such a second qualifying event occurs in order to be entitled to an extension of the continuation period. The notification must be provided in writing and be ©2007 Hitesman & Associates, P.A. 35 Elk River Municipal Utilities 122707 Flexible Benefits Plan