§ 27-50-8 - Certification of creditable coverage. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 27-50-8

   § 27-50-8  Certification of creditablecoverage. – (a) Small employer carriers shall provide written certification of creditablecoverage to individuals in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

   (b) The certification of creditable coverage shall beprovided:

   (1) At the time an individual ceases to be covered under thehealth benefit plan or otherwise becomes covered under a COBRA continuationprovision;

   (2) In the case of an individual who becomes covered under aCOBRA continuation provision, at the time the individual ceases to be coveredunder that provision; and

   (3) At the time a request is made on behalf of an individualif the request is made not later than twenty-four (24) months after the date ofcessation of coverage described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection,whichever is later.

   (c) Small employer carriers may provide the certification ofcreditable coverage required under subdivision (b)(1) of this section at a timeconsistent with notices required under any applicable COBRA continuationprovision.

   (d) The certificate of creditable coverage required to beprovided pursuant to subsection (a) shall contain:

   (1) Written certification of the period of creditablecoverage of the individual under the health benefit plan and the coverage, ifany, under the applicable COBRA continuation provision; and

   (2) The waiting period, if any, and, if applicable,affiliation period imposed with respect to the individual for any coverageunder the health benefit plan.

   (e) To the extent medical care under a group health planconsists of group health insurance coverage, the plan is deemed to havesatisfied the certification requirement under subsection (a) of this section ifthe carrier offering the coverage provides for certification in accordance withsubsection (b) of this section.

   (f) If an individual enrolls in a group health plan that usesthe alternative method of counting creditable coverage pursuant to §27-50-7(c)(3) of this act and the individual provides a certificate of coveragethat was provided to the individual pursuant to subsection (b) of this section,on request of the group health plan, the entity that issued the certificationto the individual promptly shall disclose to the group health plan informationon the classes and categories of health benefits available under the entity'shealth benefit plan.

   (2) The entity providing the information pursuant tosubdivision (1) of this subsection may charge the requesting group health planthe reasonable cost of disclosing the information.