How Long Coverage May Continue
If your eligible dependents lose coverage as a result of one of the events described below, they have the following continuation rights:
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If you divorce, legally separate, end a domestic partnership or die, your eligible dependents may elect to continue coverage for up to 36 months. If your spouse or domestic partner is age 55 or older at the time of the qualifying event, the 36-month limit does not apply — your spouse or domestic partner may continue self-paid coverage until reaching age 65 or otherwise becoming eligible for Medicare.
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If your dependent child ceases to qualify as a dependent under the Trust Early Retiree Medical Plan, he or she may continue coverage for up to 36 months.
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If you become entitled to Medicare while covered under the Trust Early Retiree Medical Plan, your eligible dependent children may continue coverage for up to 36 months from the date of your Medicare entitlement. See "When Coverage Ends" for information on when spouse/domestic partner coverage ends.
In all situations, continuation coverage ends on the last day of the payment period during which any of the following occurs:
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Payment for continuation coverage for the next monthly coverage period is not made to the Trust Office on a timely basis
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A covered person obtains coverage under any other group health plan after electing continuation coverage. However, continuation coverage will not end if the other plan excludes or limits coverage for a pre-existing condition of a qualified beneficiary, taking into account creditable coverage under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
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A covered person becomes entitled to Medicare after electing continuation coverage
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The maximum period of continuation coverage ends.
In addition, continuation coverage will end if this plan is terminated or if the District begins contributing to another group health plan on behalf of the active employee classification in which you worked while employed by the District. However, coverage may still be available under a succeeding plan.
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