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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 4317. Health plans
(a)(1) In any case in which a person (or the person's dependents)
has coverage under a health plan in connection with the person's
position of employment, including a group health plan (as defined
in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974), and such person is absent from such position of employment
by reason of service in the uniformed services, the plan shall
provide that the person may elect to continue such coverage as
provided in this subsection. The maximum period of coverage of a
person and the person's dependents under such an election shall be
the lesser of -
(A) the 18-month period beginning on the date on which the
person's absence begins; or
(B) the day after the date on which the person fails to apply
for or return to a position of employment, as determined under
section 4312(e).
(2) A person who elects to continue health-plan coverage under
this paragraph may be required to pay not more than 102 percent of
the full premium under the plan (determined in the same manner as
the applicable premium under section 4980B(f)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986) associated with such coverage for the
employer's other employees, except that in the case of a person who
performs service in the uniformed services for less than 31 days,
such person may not be required to pay more than the employee
share, if any, for such coverage.
(3) In the case of a health plan that is a multiemployer plan, as
defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, any liability under the plan for employer
contributions and benefits arising under this paragraph shall be
allocated -
(A) by the plan in such manner as the plan sponsor shall
provide; or
(B) if the sponsor does not provide -
(i) to the last employer employing the person before the
period served by the person in the uniformed services, or
(ii) if such last employer is no longer functional, to the
plan.
(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the case of a
person whose coverage under a health plan was terminated by reason
of service in the uniformed services, an exclusion or waiting
period may not be imposed in connection with the reinstatement of
such coverage upon reemployment under this chapter if an exclusion
or waiting period would not have been imposed under a health plan
had coverage of such person by such plan not been terminated as a
result of such service. This paragraph applies to the person who is
reemployed and to any individual who is covered by such plan by
reason of the reinstatement of the coverage of such person.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the coverage of any illness
or injury determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have
been incurred in, or aggravated during, performance of service in
the uniformed services.
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