Legislative intent—1984 c 190: "The legislature recognizes that when people covered by a group health insurance policy lose their group insurance benefits because they are no longer eligible, they need time to obtain a suitable form of replacement coverage or time to complete a reasonable course of medical treatment for a health condition that existed when the group benefits ended.
Spouses and dependents can lose their group insurance and may not have any other health insurance when one spouse covered under a group policy dies, obtains a divorce, or becomes unemployed. Often the cost of an individual policy prevents these persons from obtaining any other health insurance.
The intent of this act is to require insurers, health care service contractors, and health maintenance organizations to:
(1) Offer to the contract holder the option to continue health and medical benefits for employees, members, spouses, or dependents whose eligibility for coverage under a group policy, contract, or agreement is terminated; and
(2) Provide a conversion policy, contract, or agreement to employees, members, spouses, or dependents whose eligibility for coverage under a group policy, contract, or agreement is terminated." [
1984 c 190 s 1.]