A Greensboro employee's group major medical coverage terminates because her employment ends. Under North Carolina's group continuation statute, for how long may she elect to continue that coverage?

Why B is correct

Under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1), an employee or member whose group hospital, surgical, or major medical coverage ends because employment or membership terminates may elect to continue the coverage for up to 18 months. North Carolina's continuation law has only this single 18-month tier; there is no longer disability- or divorce-based extension under the state statute.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) 29 months is a federal COBRA extension figure; North Carolina's own continuation statute provides only the 18-month tier under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1).
• C) 36 months is likewise a federal COBRA figure and is not part of North Carolina's continuation law.
• D) 12 months understates the statutory period and instead matches the A&H preexisting-condition exclusion cap under G.S. 58-51-15(a)(2)b.

Memory hook

NC continuation: one tier only, 18 months; 29 and 36 belong to COBRA.

Why A is correct

Under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1), group coverage may be continued for up to 18 months after employment or membership terminates, provided the employee was continuously insured under the group policy for 3 consecutive months before termination under G.S. 58-53-10. North Carolina law has only this 18-month tier, and once the employee elects and pays, coverage is retroactive to the termination date.

Why the other options are wrong

• B) 29 months is a federal COBRA extension figure; North Carolina's continuation statute has no such tier.
• C) 36 months is likewise a federal COBRA figure for multi-event cases and does not exist in North Carolina law.
• D) 12 months is the maximum preexisting-condition exclusion period under G.S. 58-51-15(a)(2)b, not a continuation period.

Memory hook

NC continuation is 18 months, one tier only - leave the COBRA numbers alone.

Why A is correct

Under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1), a person whose group hospital, surgical, or major medical coverage ends because employment or membership terminates may continue that coverage for up to 18 months by paying the required contribution. North Carolina law has only this single 18-month tier; the 29- and 36-month figures come from the federal continuation regime and are not North Carolina continuation periods under state law.

Why the other options are wrong

• B: 29 months is a federal COBRA-style extension figure; North Carolina's state continuation statute provides only 18 months under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1).
• C: 36 months likewise belongs to the federal continuation framework, not to North Carolina's 18-month state continuation right.
• D: 6 months is far short of the statutory maximum; the continuation period runs up to 18 months under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1).

Memory hook

NC continuation = 18 months, one tier, no extensions.

Why A is correct

G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1) permits continuation of group hospital, surgical, and major medical coverage for up to 18 months after termination of employment or membership. North Carolina law provides only this single tier, so an employer or insurer cannot lawfully promise a longer state-law continuation period.

Why the other options are wrong

• B) North Carolina has no 29-month continuation tier; that figure comes from a federal continuation regime, not from Article 53.
• C) No 36-month extension exists in the North Carolina statute; the only continuation tier is the 18-month period under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1).
• D) The statutory maximum under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1) is 18 months; no shorter 12-month tier exists.

Memory hook

North Carolina keeps it simple: one tier, 18 months, nothing longer.

Why D is correct

G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1) allows an employee or member whose group coverage ends because employment or membership terminates to continue the group hospital, surgical, and major medical coverage for up to 18 months. North Carolina has a single 18-month tier; the 29- and 36-month periods belong to federal COBRA and do not exist anywhere in the state continuation statute.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) Twelve months is the A&H preexisting-condition exclusion cap under G.S. 58-51-15(a)(2)b, not the group continuation period.
• B) Twenty-nine months is a federal COBRA extension period and appears nowhere in North Carolina's continuation statute, G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1).
• C) Thirty-six months likewise belongs to federal COBRA's extended tiers; North Carolina law provides only the 18-month tier under G.S. 58-53-35(a)(1).

Memory hook

NC keeps it simple: one tier, 18 months.