Under the Massachusetts continuation rules for small-group coverage, a covered employee's employment ends for reasons other than gross misconduct. For how long may continuation coverage be maintained for that qualifying event?

Why C is correct

M.G.L. c. 176J, § 9, Massachusetts' small-group continuation statute, provides 18 months of continuation coverage when the qualifying event is the employee's termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct or a reduction in the employee's hours. The longer 36-month period is reserved for the other qualifying events — death of the employee, divorce or legal separation, Medicare entitlement, or a dependent child ceasing to be dependent.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) Thirty-six months is the duration for death, divorce, Medicare entitlement, or dependent-ceases events under M.G.L. c. 176J, § 9 — not for termination or hours reduction.
• B) Twenty-nine months is the extended duration for qualified beneficiaries determined disabled under Social Security guidelines, not the base period for a termination.
• D) Twelve months understates the statutory period; a termination other than for gross misconduct carries 18 months under M.G.L. c. 176J, § 9.

Memory hook

Fired or fewer hours = 18 months; death, divorce, Medicare, dependent = 36.