If you met the minimum criteria to continue group health coverage when your employment terminated and you retired, you may apply for the state’s group health plan through a special enrollment provision if you lose other creditable health coverage and still meet the plan eligibility rules.
Application for a special enrollment provision must be made within 60 days of the loss of eligibility for other health insurance coverage or within 30 days of a new dependent’s acquire date. Voluntary actions resulting in loss of coverage (such as voluntary cancellation of coverage and cancellation for not paying premiums) ARE NOT qualifying events. Electing to cancel, waive or decline coverage during another plan’s enrollment period IS NOT a qualifying event.
Retroactive coverage (a coverage effective date that begins before an enrollment is completed and submitted to Benefits Administration) is not allowed except for birth, adoption and placement for adoption. For all other events, the earliest effective date allowed for coverage under this plan is the first day of the month following the date that your enrollment request, including all required documentation, is completed and submitted to BA. Enrollment should be completed and submitted to BA as soon as possible to ensure the earliest possible effective date.