Section 10128.59.

(a) A health insurer that provides coverage under a group benefit plan to an employer shall offer an insured who has exhausted continuation coverage under COBRA the opportunity to continue coverage for up to 36 months from the date the insured's continuation coverage began if the insured is entitled to less than 36 months of continuation coverage under COBRA. The health insurer shall offer coverage pursuant to terms of this article, including the rate limitations contained in Section 10128.56.

(b) Notification of the coverage available under this section shall be included in the notice of the pending termination of COBRA coverage that is required to be provided to COBRA beneficiaries and that is required to be provided under Section 10128.54.

(c) For purposes of this section, "COBRA" means Section 4980B of Title 26 of the United States Code, Sections 1161 et seq. of Title 29 of the United States Code, and Section 300bb of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(d) This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, CHAMPUS supplement, long-term care, Medicare supplement, dental-only, or vision-only insurance policies.

(e) This section shall become operative on September 1, 2003, and shall apply to individuals who begin receiving COBRA coverage on or after January 1, 2003.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 794, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 2003. Section operative September 1, 2003, by its own provisions.)