Page 48 - The Piper Associate Handbook - August 2015

The Piper
Associate Handbook
For covered spouses: If you are the spouse of a covered associate and are covered under the health plan, you may be entitled to elect continuation coverage if you lose group health coverage for any of the following reasons:
1. A termination of your spouse’s employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct), or a reduction in the associate’s hours of employment;
2. The death of your spouse;
3. Divorce or legal separation from your spouse; or
4. Your spouse becomes entitled to Medicare.
For covered dependent children: If you are the dependent child of a covered Associate and are covered under the health plan, you may be entitled to elect continuation coverage if you lose group health coverage for any of the following reasons:
1.
2. 3. 4. 5.
A termination of the associate’s employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct), or a reduction in the associate’s hours of employment;
The death of the associate;
Parents’ divorce or legal separation;
The associate becomes entitled to Medicare; or
You cease to be a “dependent child” under the health plan.
If you are a
period, you may also elect continuation coverage.
child born or placed for adoption with a covered associate during the continuation coverage
Notification Requirements for Covered Associates, Spouses and Dependents
Under the law, the covered associate, spouse, or other covered family member has the responsibility to inform our Plan Administrator of a divorce, legal separation, or a child losing “dependent status” under the health plan. This notification must be made within 60 days from whichever date is later: the date of the qualifying event or the date that coverage would be lost under the terms of the insurance contract because of the event. Check the dependent eligibility rules contained in the summary plan description carefully to determine when a child loses “dependent status” under the health plan. You satisfy our notification requirements by sending the information in writing to Human Resources. The information must be in writing and may be sent through interoffice mail, certified mail or hand delivered. If this notification is not done in a timely manner, then your rights to continuation coverage may be forfeited. Note: The Piper has the responsibility for notifying the health plan of the associate’s termination of employment, reduction in employment hours, death or Medicare entitlement.
Election Period
After a qualifying event, covered individuals (also known as qualified beneficiaries) will be notified of their right to elect continuation coverage. Each qualified beneficiary has an independent election right and will have 60 days from the date coverage is lost under the health plan or from the date of notification to elect continuation coverage. The law does not allow for an extension of this maximum period. If a qualified beneficiary does not elect continuation coverage within this period, all rights to elect continuation coverage will end.
If a qualified beneficiary does elect to continue coverage and pays the applicable premium, then the company is required to provide the qualified beneficiary with coverage that is identical to that provided under the plan to similarly situated associates and/or covered dependents. If coverage is changed or modified for similarly situated active associates, then continuation coverage may be similarly changed and/or modified.
August 14, 2015 Page 48