State RegulationsNC specificDifficulty 1/5
An employee's group health coverage in North Carolina terminates because her job ends. Under state law, for up to how long may she continue the group hospital, surgical, and major medical coverage?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
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.