33-22-142. Certification of creditable coverage. (1) A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage shall provide the certification described in subsection (3):
     (a) at the time that an individual ceases to be covered under the group health plan or otherwise becomes covered under a COBRA continuation provision;
     (b) in the case of an individual becoming covered under a COBRA continuation provision, at the time that the individual ceases to be covered under a COBRA continuation provision; and
     (c) at the request on behalf of an individual made not later than 24 months after the date of termination of the coverage described in subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b), whichever is later.
     (2) The certification pursuant to subsection (1)(a) may be provided, to the extent practicable, at a time consistent with notices required under any applicable COBRA continuation provision.
     (3) Certification is the written:
     (a) certification of the period of creditable coverage of the individual under a group health plan and the coverage under the COBRA continuation provision;
     (b) certification of the waiting period, if any, and affiliation period, as defined in 33-31-102, if applicable, imposed with respect to the individual for any coverage under a group health plan; and
     (c) notification to the individual of:
     (i) the individual's option to apply to the Montana comprehensive health association, provided for in 33-22-1503, for an association portability plan, as defined in 33-22-1501, within 63 days of termination of creditable coverage;
     (ii) the individual's conversion rights;
     (iii) the availability of COBRA continuation coverage;
     (iv) the telephone number and address of the Montana comprehensive health association; and
     (v) other notification as determined necessary and in the form prescribed by rule by the commissioner.
     (4) To the extent that medical care under a group health plan consists of group health insurance coverage, a group health plan satisfies the certification requirement of this section if the health insurance issuer offering the coverage provides the certification in accordance with this section.
     (5) In the case of an election described in 33-22-141 by a group health plan or health insurance issuer, if the group health plan or health insurance issuer enrolls an individual for coverage under the group health plan and the individual provides a certification of coverage of the individual, the entity that issued the certification shall upon request of the group health plan or health insurance issuer promptly disclose information on coverage of classes and categories of health benefits available under the certified coverage. The entity may charge the requesting group health plan or health insurance issuer the reasonable cost of disclosing the information.
     (6) This section applies to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as it applies to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in connection with a group health plan in the group market.

     History: En. Sec. 36, Ch. 416, L. 1997.