Subd. 1. Break in marital relationship, termination of coverage prohibited.

SPOUSES AND CHILDREN.

No policy of accident and health insurance providing coverage of hospital or medical expense on either an expense incurred basis or other than an expense incurred basis, which in addition to covering the insured also provides coverage to the spouse of the insured shall contain a provision for termination of coverage for a spouse covered under the policy solely as a result of a break in the marital relationship.

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 1981 c 329 s 4]

Subd. 2a. Continuation privilege.

Every policy described in subdivision 1 shall contain a provision which permits continuation of coverage under the policy for the insured's former spouse and dependent children upon entry of a valid decree of dissolution of marriage. The coverage shall be continued until the earlier of the following dates:

1. (a) the date the insured's former spouse becomes covered under any other group health plan; or
2. (b) the date coverage would otherwise terminate under the policy. If the coverage is provided under a group policy, any required premium contributions for the coverage shall be paid by the insured on a monthly basis to the group policyholder for remittance to the insurer. The policy must require the group policyholder to, upon request, provide the insured with written verification from the insurer of the cost of this coverage promptly at the time of eligibility for this coverage and at any time during the continuation period. In no event shall the amount of premium charged exceed 102 percent of the cost to the plan for such period of coverage for other similarly situated spouses and dependent children with respect to whom the marital relationship has not dissolved, without regard to whether such cost is paid by the employer or employee. Upon request by the insured's former spouse or dependent child, a health carrier must provide the instructions necessary to enable the child or former spouse to elect continuation of coverage.

Subd. 2b. Conversion privilege.

Every policy described in subdivision 1 shall contain a provision allowing a former spouse and dependent children of an insured, without providing evidence of insurability, to obtain from the insurer at the expiration of any continuation of coverage required under subdivision 2a or sections 62A.146 and 62A.20, conversion coverage providing at least the minimum benefits of a qualified plan as prescribed by section 62E.06 and the option of a number three qualified plan, a number two qualified plan, a number one qualified plan as provided by section 62E.06, subdivisions 1 to 3, provided application is made to the insurer within 30 days following notice of the expiration of the continued coverage and upon payment of the appropriate premium. The individual policy shall be renewable at the option of the covered person as long as the covered person is not covered under another qualified plan as defined in section 62E.02, subdivision 4. Any revisions in the table of rate for the individual policy shall apply to the covered person's original age at entry and shall apply equally to all similar policies issued by the insurer. A policy providing reduced benefits at a reduced premium rate may be accepted by the covered person in lieu of the optional coverage otherwise required by this subdivision.

Subd. 3. Application.

Subdivision 1 applies to every policy of accident and health insurance which is delivered, issued for delivery, renewed or amended on or after July 19, 1977. Subdivisions 2a and 2b apply to every policy of accident and health insurance which is delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, or amended on or after August 1, 1981.